h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Emmily, we'll drop it - after I've said the following, because I'm still not sure that you understand the point I've been trying to make.

Frankly, the only justification for including the bluethroat in your Entry entitled 'European ROBINS is that it USED to be known as 'the bluethroated ROBIN.

However, apart from the fact that they are both members of the thrush Family, they are not THAT closely related. The bluethroat is actually more closely related to the (more soberly coloured) nightingale, with which it shares the Genus name 'Luscinia'.

As you've said yourself, both the male and female robins are indistinguishable - both having red breasts. However, only the male bluethroat has a blue breast.

I think it is well-worth including the bluethroat in your Entry because it IS such an attractive bird and it used to be known as the bluethroated ROBIN. I just think it is a pity not to make this point clear in your Entry, especially as various Press Officers (including RSPB and BBC) seem to have unwittingly created some confusion.

Having made this point as clear as I can, you'll be pleased to hear that I'm now going to shut up about it.

Ok, you can have the last word BigAl

I reckon you've done enough research on the bluethroat to write an Entry on it

Emmily

BigAl, can I 'take back' that last sentence

>"I reckon you've done enough research on the bluethroat to write an Entry on it "

I'd like to write an Entry on the bluethroat.

Emmily

Emmily. Fine. I'll look forward to reading it.

I'll deal with the confussion over the name in that entry.

Emmily

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

Well done Em!

Congratulations Emmily

Thanks to all

Emmily

Just taken down and a'analysed' our Christmas cards. We had 47.

7 of them (14.8%) had robins on.
4 of them (8.5%) had sheep
thrid place was shared between deer and penguins(3 of each = 6.3%).

Well done Emmily!

Well done!

Mol

Just belatedly been reading Monday's newspaper about ther longevity of birds. The record iss held by a Manx shearwater from Ireland, believed to be about 55 years. "Smaller birds reaching record ages [include] the robin, 8 years".

8 and 1/2 years was what I found while researching robin, but as it was an exceptional caes, and not the norm. I didn't include it, plus I wasn't sure how reliable the source was.

Emmily

To be honest, I think it would be worthwhile adding a sentence to the effect that robins have been known to live for as long as 8 years. It gives people an idea, and it's not the sort of information that one finds in 'ordinary' books (like my Observer's Book of Birds).

Sorry BigAl I searched Guinness World Records and RSPB, while I was researching robins, neither mentioned longest living robin , which is why I didn't include it.

Emmily

Well, the info I've got appears to come vfrom the British Trust for Ornithology. (I think 'robin' would be a bit too specific for s'thing like The Guinness Book...)

Look at this:

http://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.net/papers/print.php?sid=6122