The robin has a red face which distinguishes it from other red-breasted birds. Adults have olive-brown upper parts and a red-orange breast, throat and forehead. The orange part is often edged with a band of grey. They young do not have the orange on the breast and have dark-brown and buff mottling. Adult length is 14 cm with a wingspan of 21 cm. fully grown the robin weighs18g.

Robins live in forests with dense undergrowth. They also like scrub, gardens, hedgerows and town parks. Robins nest in holes in banks, in cavities in trees or in hedges. The female builds the nest out of leaves and moss and lines it with fine roots and hair. In Britain and Ireland the robin also breeds in walls or on buildings. Both sexes defend their territory. In the position of defence the robin holds its head erect to display its orange breast, the body rapidly swaying sideways. Males will fight fiercely with one another to defend their territories, sometimes to the death. They are aggressive to their own kind and to other species.

They eat insects, worms, seeds and berries. They will happily feed from a bird table, especially in winter. They are trusting with humans and easily tamed, and will feed from the hand of a trusted feeder.

They emit a thin, warbling song and their call is a persistent repeated 'tic' sound. They can be seen and heard throughout the year though they sing less frequently in late summer.

They have a short lifespan, usually around 2 years.