Robin

Robins are one of the few British birds that sing right through the winter, and both males and females wear the red breast. Each bird defends its own patch, which is why one robin will follow you round the garden while you dig.

The link with Christmas goes back to the Victorian postmen, whose red uniforms earned them the nickname robins. Robins soon appeared on Christmas cards delivering the post, and have stayed there ever since.

Based on plate 48, volume 2 of John Gould's The Birds of Great Britain.