American Robins.

[WheresThatCatGoneNow]

I'm not particularly a 'bird' person at all, though I do enjoy seeing them in my garden.

This morning (Christmas Eve) I was standing at the kitchen sink, eating a slice of toast and gazing out of the window at my back garden.

Suddenly, a robin landed on a branch of the tree. And then five more arrived!

What's more, they had jet black heads and tails, grey backs and a flash of brilliant white at the base of the tail, only visible when they opened their tail feathers to flutter about from branch to branch.

They stayed for about ten minutes and then flew away.

I so wish I'd taken a photo, but it wasn't until I had googled 'unusual robins' that I realised what they might have probably been.

I'm in Lancashire, by the way, if that makes any difference!

Just looked the American robin up, and wow lucky you seeing them

I've been keeping an eye out for them all day, in case they came back, but haven't seen them.

Could it be that they were on their way to somewhere else, and just picked my garden for a ten-minute rest stop?

I've been smiling all day whenever I think of them. It just feels a bit magical that something so unusual should happen on Christmas Eve!

American robins are very rare visitors to the UK, and about the size of a thrush. It's far more likely that you saw a stonechat, which matches your description. ( Sorry to burst your bubble!)

How odd, my parents in Cumbria told me they’d had a gang of unusual robins in their garden at lunchtime. I wonder if they’re Wheres or if they are stonechats?

American robins are not robins and are not migratory

Redwings have red on their sides. They arrive at this time of year, or earlier) on their way from Scandinavia to somewhere. Could it be that? Robins re on their own ime.

They don't sound like Redwings, @Elfnsafe1y, OP describes them as having jet-black heads, which would fit with Stonechats, and Redwings are also about thrush-sized.

Agree with others, stonechat or possibly bullfinches.

American robins are actually thrushes and not related to our robins at all.

Jealous

I would have thought them to be most likely bullfinches. The males have smart plumage of black heads, a grey back, a noticeable white flash under their tail, and bright red chests and stomachs. They are very striking. Stonechats are not usually seen in gardens, or in groups, and it's very unlikely that they were American robins.

Another vote for bullfinches. I believe American robins don't sing

Not that you mentioned singing.