Ardea
Official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists' Union

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Adriaensen F. & Dhondt A.A. (1990) Territoriality in the continental European Robin Erithacus rubecula rubecula. ARDEA 78 (3): 459-465
The territoriality of the continental race of the European Robin in three different habitats near Antwerp (Belgium) is compared with results of studies on the British subspecies. Mean territory size (autumn: 0.36 ha, breeding season: 1.31 ha) was comparable with the British data. Garden and woodland territories were larger than parkland territories (autumn: 0.48 vs. 0.21 ha, breeding season: 1.49 vs. 0.85 ha). The ratio of autumn territory size over breeding territory size was relatively smaller than in British studies (0.3 vs. 0.5). In parkland and gardens territories of males that remained unpaired during the breeding season were smaller than those of successful males. Compared to the British data few females defended an individual autumn territory, and female autumn territories tended to be smaller than those of males. Robins showed a preference for dense and/or evergreen vegetation. Extra food during the winter seemed to be an important factor in the suitability of the area for wintering.


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