Juvenile robin moults

[Rob_D]

How old are they before a juvenile Robin gets a red breast? Do they disperse from their parents territory before this?

There's a few youngsters around now acting very cocky, but they are obviously still wet behind the ears!

[Tracey.A]

Hi Rob,

juveniles have a partial moult between 6 & 7 weeks and by winter have the red breast of the adults. They are independent by 16 - 24 days and will look for a territory of their own. Hope this helps.

Tracey

[ellen h]

Think I have a juvenille robin attacking its reflection in my wing mirror!!
ellen

[tufftie]

Originally Posted by ellen h

Think I have a juvenille robin attacking its reflection in my wing mirror!!
ellen

Some birds seem to do this - very funny to watch There's a mute swan, Pevensey way, that attacks it's reflection in wing mirrors too

[shei111]

Originally Posted by tufftie

Some birds seem to do this - very funny to watch There's a mute swan, Pevensey way, that attacks it's reflection in wing mirrors too

Yea tufftie, I tend to attack myself after looking in the mirror too she.

[Rob_D]

Originally Posted by Tracey.A

Hi Rob,

juveniles have a partial moult between 6 & 7 weeks and by winter have the red breast of the adults. They are independent by 16 - 24 days and will look for a territory of their own. Hope this helps.

Tracey

Thanks Tracey. So no red even after the partial moult?

I understood that the red breast was a significant trigger for male territorial agression. Without it, maybe the young males get some leniency when on an adults territory - or at least less violent attacks until the winter!

Not sure which robins hold territory in my garden now - sadly the sprawks take their toll all too often.