European Robin Alarm Calls and Song

This video features two different European Robin alarm calls. One alarm call warns of ground threats and the other that an aerial predator is nearby.

European Robins use their ‘tic’ alarm call to warn others that there’s a ground predator, like a cat or a fox, is in the area. They use a different alarm call when the threat is in the air. This call is a high pitched ‘see’ call, made when an aerial predator, like the Common Kestrel featured in the video, is nearby. The pitch of the call makes it hard for the predator to find the source of the sound, helping the calling Robin to escape detection.

In contrast to the alarm calls, the video ends with a European Robin singing its beautiful warbling song. Unlike most birds in the UK, Robins sing all year round, except for late summer when they’re moulting. As its autumn, this one isn’t trying to attract a mate but sings to let other Robins know that this is its territory.

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Thank you for watching!

[BioBush]

Two alarm calls that mean different types of predators!?! Woah! Why is it that we think animals don't have languages? It seems pretty clear they do. Great work, as always!

[samyorke]

This has been very helpful! Every morning I've been hearing what I now know is the ground predator call at around 5am (probably when the local cat is doing his rounds)!

[clairobics]

My favourite birdsong ever since I was ‘adopted’ by my ‘Bobbie Robin Roberts’ who sang his Winter sing to me this year. Now it’s March and he has a mate and his ding has changed. Looking forward to meeting the family 😊

Here I visit again on Your channel.
Hand and thumb up for your video.15
I've watched it to the end.

[DianaElizabeth]

Beautiful Video Great Upload
Have a Lovely Sunday Cheers.

[natureisallpowerful]

Ahh the humble Robin. I love messing with the local Robin's by playing this out of the window🤣

[JacqJansen]

Robins are so beautiful .
The song and the color.
The song is also one of my favorite.
Greetings Jacq

[IEnjoyCreatingVideos]

Nice footage Friend! Thank you for sharing the video with us!💖👌👍😎JP

[helenTW]

I had been looking for this mysterious nighttime bird with a high pitched whistle for ages. I thought it has to be a species that rarely visits my country. I went through hundreds of bird songs and none matched. I played back my recording and what it reminded me of the most was the song of a robin so I googled "european robin sounds" instead of "european robin song" and I finally found it - robin's aerial threat call is what I been hearing all along!

[Birds-in-Norway]

Beautiful production. Thanks for sharing. Interesting movie. Very well filmed.
With best wishes for tomorrow.
Kind regards, Knut.

[Fortheloveofbirds]

I find Robins very cute but this type is the hands down winner

[emergencylime]

Brill, i wondered why the Robin in my tree was doing a 'pip pip' call, good to know!

[Uncagethewild]

Wow ❣️ such a sweet voice and beautiful bird 😍
I'm a new subscriber to your channel, will explore more content on coming days.
Every year we welcome Red-breasted Flycatcher a similar looking species to our region as wintering migratory bird.
Thanks for sharing nature's wonder with us 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[slimetime]

excellent video and fantastically accurate particularly on the sky predator call - today, from a great distance, I saw and heard what I believed to be a rather large bird of prey circling above. Soon after, the frequently visiting male robin in my garden began its single-note warning call, presumably to warn its mate (we have both a male and female visiting, and the thought of baby robins is too cute!). Great content please create more!

[BirdsandGhibliFan]

Its alarm call sounds like the alarm of the Northern Cardinal of North America. It makes a similar one-note “chip” call, and can increase in frequency if the threat is magnified. Thanks for sharing!

[skillmyster]

the call sounds almost exactly like a computer mouse haha