Marie Read / American Robin (Turdus migratorius), feeding on winterberry (Ilex) fruits in winter, New York, USA, December.

Stephen Dalton / Close-up of holly leaf (Ilex aquifolium).

Kim Taylor / Redwing (Turdus iliacus) feeding on Holly (Ilex) berries, Surrey, England, UK, December.

Sylvain Cordier / European holly ( Ilex aquifolium) , female tree with red fruits, Haut Rhin, France.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Bewick's wren (Thryomanes bewickii), adult perched on icy branch of Possum Haw Holly (Ilex decidua) with berries, Hill Country, Texas, USA. February

Cyril Ruoso / Holly (Ilex aquilfolium) in winter frost, Alberes Mountains, Pyrenees, France, February.

Cyril Ruoso / Woodland scene from above with Holly (Ilex aquilfolium) colonizing meadow, Alberes Mountains, Pyrenees, France, October 2011.

Cyril Ruoso / Woodland scene from above with Holly (Ilex aquilfolium) the first species to colonize the adjacent meadow, Alberes Mountains, Pyrenees, France, October 2011.

Cyril Ruoso / Holly (Ilex aquilfolium) colonizing meadow adjacent to woodland, Alberes Mountains, Pyrenees, France, March 2011.

Matthew Maran / Holly leaf (Ilex aquifolium). Hampstead Heath, London, England, UK. October.

Mike Read / English oak (Quercus robur) and Holly (Ilex aquifolium) Brately Wood, New Forest National Park, Hampshire, England, UK, March.

Colin Varndell / Fresh Holly leaf (Ilex aquifolium) in spring. Dorset, UK, May.