Fact And Fiction- The Real Robin

This red-breasted bird is closely associated with the festive season. Yet, as naturalist Stephen Moss reveals in his new book, our cute Christmas companion has a far darker and more fascinating side

- Stephen Moss

Heart-warming television adverts for department stores and supermarkets are now as much a part of the festive season as holly, roast turkey and presents under the tree. And last year, Waitrose came up with a real Christmas cracker.

On the advert’s release date, eager audiences tuned in to see an uplifting tale featuring Britain’s favourite bird: the robin. Thanks to the magic of computer-generated graphics, we were able to follow this plucky little fellow as he undertook a hazardous migratory journey, from the frozen Arctic to an English garden. On arrival, he was welcomed by his human host – a little girl – and by a second robin, which happily shared a warm mince pie with its new friend.

From the advertisers’ point of view, this 90-second epic was a huge hit. By Christmas Day itself, the film had been watched by more than three million people on YouTube, as well as millions more on TV. One critic admitted: “I absolutely lose it. Genuine tears… over a robin eating a pie.”

The story moved me to tears, too: but ones of frustration and rage. For of all the birds to choose for this tale of togetherness, the robin is the least likely candidate. Had this fictional robin really landed on a bird table after its long flight, the chances are that the incumbent bird would have chase it off pronto. For robins are notoriously territorial – even in the dead of winter. Male robins will always attack any intruder into their space, occasionally – though fortunately not often – fighting to the death.