Pesticide risk assessment for birds and mammals

5.1.8 Robin Erithacus rubecula

The robin is widespread and abundant all over the Zone, except in the northernmost parts. Its primary habitat is forest and woodland (coniferous, deciduous or mixed) but robins are also common in parks, gardens and other humanly managed and disturbed habitats (Snow & Perrins 1998), although not in the north (Finland). Population fluctuations, partly related to the winter temperatures, are not infrequent, but overall North European breeding populations seem to be largely stable (Table 5.).

Robins breeding within the Zone are generally migratory, but a minor part of the Danish, South Swedish and Norwegian populations stay in the area throughout the year, particularly in mild winters. Winter quarters are in W and SW Europe and NW Africa. The migrants arrive in late March and April and depart from mid-August to mid-November (Snow & Perrins 1998). Breeding is from late April to end of July in the south but does not start until mid- or late May in the northern part of the Zone. Usually double-brooded in the south and single-brooded in the north (Snow & Perrins 1998).

Although robins are not infrequent in hedgerows and coverts in farmland, the species is not considered relevant for field crops due to its habitat preferences of forest, parks and gardens (Svensson et al. 1999, Larsen & Heldbjerg 2009).

Body weight ♂ mostly 15–21 g, ♀ 14–19 g (Snow & Perrins 1998). Mean body weight of the smaller sex (♀: 16.5 g) may be used for risk assessment.

No species specific data available, therefore calculated allometrically using the equation for passerine birds in accordance with the formula in Appendix G of the EFSA Guidance Document (EFSA 2009).

The diet during the breeding season consists of invertebrates both for adults and nestlings. Foraging is done mainly on ground living invertebrates, but robins sometimes take prey from branches or leaves. In a study between March-May of hedgerow inhabiting robins in northern Germany, faecal samples showed that Coleoptera constituted the main part of the diet (Table 5.). Other data from northern Europe are apparently not available.

The robin is a relevant focal species in orchards (fruit trees), ornamentals and nursery cultures, as specified below:

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  Fruit trees: ground directed applications (herbicides)
  
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  Ornamentals and nursery: pre-emergence, small plants (all treatments), large plants (ground directed applications)
  

As a ground feeder, robin is particularly relevant for ground directed applications, including applications to small plants. For canopy directed applications blue tit is more worst case.