Territorial birds and Excitement in the garden

[gen2]

I know robins are very territorial and will fight other robins - sometimes to the death but I didn't know they bullied other birds. Today I was watching a robin in my garden and it would only feed on the fat balls when there were no sparrows or starlings around and keept well out of their way. However, things were different with the dunnocks. I watched for over 20 mins as this robin gave two dunnocks a really hard time repeatedly chasing them around and from the garden such that neither the dunnocks nor the robin had time to feed. Does anyone else see robins bullying dunnocks?

Then panic! A male sparrowhawk swooped into the garden . . . and missed! It sat in the buddleia for a few minutes before leaving. Not a single bird dared to return to my garden for over half an hour.

[wildwood]

Yep. Robins are successful as a species because they are so tenacious in looking after themselves. Their territorial behaviour prevents them from becoming to abundant by spacing them out. This time of the year bird food is hard to come by and the one that protects the food source is likely to be in the best condition to breed in the Spring.

Over time, people have become a recognised food source and hence the Robin has become very tame. People also unintentionally scare more timid species away by their presence, thus helping the Robin.

Aren't we lucky to have such a beautiful bird as a common one?

[fishing81]

i have a pond and waterfall in my garden and i get a rare visit from a grey wagtail which didn't please our resident robin and made several swoops at it till it went

[Cetti]

First of all gen2 I really do envy the amount of birds you see as thanks to our neighbours hacking down trees and bushes we hardly see a thing.

Perhaps because of this the birds have changed. The bully in our garden is a female Blackie. She will not allow Robins, Sparrows or the male Blackie any where near the food and gives them a sharp peck if they don't take the hint.

[gen2]

Hi all, Thanks for your replies.

Cetti, I am surprised too at the variety we get as we only have a small garden. We live in a Victorian terrace town house in a street parallel to the High Street so our gardens back onto those of the shops. Most of the shops have rented flats or offices above and so their gardens are neglected and overrun with buddleia, brambles, elderberry, hawthorn, holly and sycamore trees. That probably provides a wealth of food oportunities and nesting sites.

Nothing unusual today, but we had a blackcap last week and a pair of bramblings just before Christmas.

[burnhal]

The male blackbird is the bully in our garden- beats me why he just doesnt get on and eat! Theres plenty to go round. We are often amused by his antics.The robin is quite laid back and doesnt bother the dunnocks at all.
Regarding sparrowhawks- I opened the back door in October to let my grandaughter outside. She pointed out to me the 'funny big bird sat on the barbeque'. A male sparrowhawk- beautiful. I explained to my grandaughter what it was and that it catches and eats small birds. With all the knowledge and certainty of a three year old she told me- 'Dont be silly, Grandad, little birds aren't dinner!'