This guy just about tolerates my being in his garden. If I were another male robin, though, he'd try to kill me. The solar panel he's standing on is about 5 cm (2in) square.
So this is a true robin. I've always known that what we call a robin over here is actually a type of thrush, but have never seen the genuine article before. Yours also have the 'red' breast, and perhaps are also a sign of spring.
My hummingbirds disdain their feeder now, and I've taken it down. With what California looks like in spring (basically one big flower) I don't blame them.
Yup. Much smaller, and vastly different in temperament to the N. American robin/thrush (the closest local equivalent to which would be the redwing). They're here all year round - most people would probably associate them with Christmas (very traditional motif on Xmas cards)
As it was told to me (in school in Canada), early English settlers in N American saw the red-breasted thrush and were reminded of this one. The songs are not unalike, although the robin's is more rapidly fluid than the thrush's.
Males are very bold and territorial, and they'll have a go at pretty much anything they see as a threat. With a bit of patience, though, humans can have one eating out of their hands.
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My hummingbirds disdain their feeder now, and I've taken it down. With what California looks like in spring (basically one big flower) I don't blame them.
As it was told to me (in school in Canada), early English settlers in N American saw the red-breasted thrush and were reminded of this one. The songs are not unalike, although the robin's is more rapidly fluid than the thrush's.
Males are very bold and territorial, and they'll have a go at pretty much anything they see as a threat. With a bit of patience, though, humans can have one eating out of their hands.
I miss hummingbirds (we used to get green and ruby-throated ones a lot where I lived), but they don't occur here. I was startled one day by what looked like one visiting my garden, but it turned out to be a hummingbird hawkmoth.