Winter is a robin's time to shine — and sing out

When my sister died in 2008, my parents began to have regular visits from a robin who would hop into their kitchen. Sure, it may have just been a cheeky, hungry bird who was simply looking for food, but they took it as a nice little message from their daughter

A Robin keeps an eye on things from its garden perch in Blackrock, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

The robin has such a strong association with Christmas. It adorns Christmas cards and wrapping paper, while artificial robins hang from Christmas trees and perch on Christmas cakes.

Why has the robin been chosen as the quintessential Christmas bird?