The final loser wisely terminates a particularly aggressive encounter with a rapid retreat. Robins live as interesting a life as any garden bird. Research into their lives reveals that outside the breeding season both males and females sing to declare and defend their own individual territories. Songs are identical. Behaviour changes around Christmas-time.
Robins begin exploring other robins' territories seeking a mate.
By mid-January the majority will be paired and the females stop singing. Male robins continue singing, declaring what has become a joint future breeding territory. On occasions singing lasts into the night especially where street lights are prominent. Detailed research shows that a few robins hold more than one territory simultaneously for up to six weeks. These are usually adult males moving up to a third of a mile between breeding and winter territories.