I am continuing this series
with the photographs that were took on a day recently when I visited the National
Trust Property of Mount Stewart, near Newtownards, Co Down. Here are a couple more images of the Robin. I was asked last week why do we call the Robin's breast red when in reality it is orange and here is the answer. The distinctive orange
breast of both sexes contributed to the European robin's original name of
"redbreast", orange as a colour name being unknown in English
until the 16th century, by which time the fruit had been introduced. In the
15th century, when it became popular to give human names to familiar species,
the bird came to be known as robin redbreast, which was eventually shortened to robin. As a given
name, Robin is originally a diminutive of Robert.
Other older English names for the bird include ruddock and robinet.
I am
linking to SATURDAY CRITTERS.
I hope you enjoyed this post today.
I appreciate your visit and
comments.
Gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots! Thanks for the information about its naming.
ReplyDeleteFabulous! I still am intrigued by how different our robins are.
ReplyDeleteHello Margaret,
ReplyDeleteYour Robin is adorable, what a sweet bird. Love the photos.
Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend! PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
Such a pretty and fluffy little Robin. I do like Robins, and I live on Robin Road.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are beyond cute! Are they fairly tame? The ones here, the fake ones, will not fly away when people are around. They like mown lawns because of their love of worms. Your prange info is fascinating! Didn't they have anything that was orange in color back then?
ReplyDeleteNot only did i enjoy the pictures, but the history lesson! Yes, it's funny that the color orange was named after the fruit, and it was just considered another shade of red before that.
ReplyDelete