other names
Scarlet-Breasted Robin and White-Capped Robin

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DESCRIPTION

Male: Length 120 to 130mm. Upper parts are black with a conspicuous white patch on forehead. Wings and tail are black with a broad white stripe on wing coverts running into two irregular white bars in flight feathers. Outer tail feathers edged and tipped with white. Throat is black, breast is scarlet, belly and undertail are white. Eye dark brown. Bill and feet are black.

Female: Size as per male. Upper parts grey-brown with large buff-white forehead spot. Wings and tail are grey-brown with irregular double off-white stripe on wings. Outer tail feathers are white. Throat is grey-brown, breast is dull red, belly and undertail is dull white.

Juvenile: Resemble adult females but duller in colour. Very little red colouring. Males moult into red and black plumage in their first autumn. Juveniles are finely streaked or mottled brown and buff-white.

Voice: The call is a faint, thin tick, by both sexes occasionally. The song is a sweet, short, rippling cadence of whistled notes (by male).

The Scarlet Robin is considered the best known of the robins. There are two races, one on the east of the continent and one on the west. The robin can be found over most of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania and in the south-eastern corners of Queensland and South Australia and in the far south of Western Australia. The robin prefers a habitat of scrubby eucalypt forest and woodland, and this is where the species breed. It ventures into more open habitat in autumn and winter to forage for food. The diet consists of insects which are taken mid-flight and picked from leaves and bark. As with other red or pink robins, the female builds the nest, which is neat and made primarily with cobwebs, fine bark, moss and grass. The inside of the nest is approximately 45x40mm and is lined with fine bark, fur, feathers and hair. The male collects the building material, but spends most of his time singing in defence of his territory. The male also feeds the female while she is incubating the eggs. Breeding is from July and August and December to January. A pair may raise up to three broods per season. Usually three pale blue, green or grey eggs are laid. Incubation is about 15 to 17 days. Young are initially fed by the female with the male bringing the food, and later by both parents. Young fledge at approximately 15 to 17 days old. The Scarlet Robin is either solitary or in and all year pair. Established pairs hold permanent territories.