Apparently the reason this thrush-like visitor to Peckham is called a robin, is because the Pilgrim fathers, or some such early US settlers were feeling homesick. In an attempt to make their new country feel a bit more like home, they named the first red-breasted bird they saw a robin. It's not related in any way, shape or form to the European robin but I suppose it made a good subsitute. Are there any European robins (Erithacus rubecula)in the US?? Looks like the US and UK blackbird are also two entirely different species - the one thing they have in common is a tendency to attack the American robin!!