The robin is a favourite bird in and around West Dunbartonshire at Christmas.

With its red breast and confiding nature, it has become popular icon of the festive season. And the chances are that a high proportion of the greetings cards will be adorned with an image of a robin.

The cards will have fat robins, thin robins, robins wearing Santa hats and others adorned by tinsel.

It’s not surprising the robin is everywhere at Christmas, for the bird is a familiar garden species which has a special place in people’s hearts.

Its red breast – akin to Santa’s red outfit – adds a welcome splash of colour to dark winter days.

But in contrast to its sweet image conveying messages of peace, the robin has a dark side to its nature.

The reason for this is that the species is highly territorial and will fight tirelessly to protect its winter patch from rival robins trying to muscle in on its home ground.

It can be amusing to watch the tussles that play out among winter’s dormant lawns, flowerbeds and vegetable patches as robins chase each other in a non-stop merry-go-round.

Experiments have shown that a stuffed robin will be violently attacked by the real-life counterpart if left out in a garden territory, leading to the conclusion that Mr Redbreast would happily kill to defend his patch.

Naturalist David Lindo says: “Despite being a seemingly friendly bird, the robin is hugely territorial and very defensive of its territory and I presume that reflects us as an island nation that we will stand our ground.”

Before it became synonymous with Christmas, the robin featured in British mythology, with some accounts saying it should never be harmed. Even when egg-collecting was a popular hobby, it was – apparently – very rare for anyone to take the robin’s eggs.

This was because of a legend that said the robin was an all-brown bird until it was touched with the blood of Christ as he hung on the cross.