Country cousin

I saw that robin when I was looking at the old trees a few days ago. And I thought the breast looked more red than on the urban robins. That would make sense.

The red breast of a robin is dependent on the metabolising of carotenoids into ketocatotenoids. And this means birds have to be able to ingest sufficient carotenoid-containing foods and be able to afford a) utilising the food for feathers rather than health and b) the “expensive” metabolic process. Researchers suggest that a decline in carotenoid-rich invertebrates in urban areas negatively impacts the appearance of birds with red and orange plumage.

It's hard to tell from pictures as the light conditions might be effecting the colour, but I think there just may be a difference.

But, as I say, photos are not reliable...

You can, though, occasionally catch interesting moments: Tane mid-scratch.

And, without the photo I would not have realised that he was carrying food... for a mate or... surely not chicks??

This, I think, is the mate. Whom I think is Tapdance.

But though I have at times seen two robins together, I have never seen long or well enough to be sure that one in Tane (I assume so as close enough to notice) let alone who the other one is.