‘Art thou the bird whom Man loves best,
The pious bird with the scarlet breast,
Our little English Robin …’
~ from William Wordsworth, ‘The Redbreast Chasing the Butterfly’, 1806
Blogger’s note: This particular little cutie, with whom I shared some quality moments – me chatting and it peeping – at Penarth Heads beach on Monday, is actually a Welsh (not English) Robin. And its breast is really more orange than red but I’ve just this week found out why it was formerly known as Redbreast and described as having a red or scarlet rather than orange breast – it’s because orange as a colour (which originated from the fruit of the same name) was unknown in Britain prior to the mid 16th century.
I read The Robin: A Biography, by Stephen Moss, this year – it’s full of interesting facts including the one about the colour
I am reading it right now – and really enjoying it. Mind you, I enjoy everything Stephen Moss writes. 🙂
Whatever its nationality it’s a beauty.
I wholeheartedly agree, Susan. 🙂
I expect that we read the same blogger, if only I can recall the name of her blog!
I don’t think I read this in a blog … but I may be wrong.
I do learn some interesting things here, thank you. I think that scarlet was once not a colour but a fabric, I might have to look that up again…
Glad to know that the Robin is Welsh too.
Your own interesting fact rings a vague bell … off to google. 🙂