Red-capped Robin
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| Petroica goodenovii (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) |
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 Red-capped Robin range
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The Red-capped Robin (Petroica goodenovii) is a small passerine bird native to Australia. Like many brightly coloured robins of the Petroicidae, it is sexually dimorphic. The male has a distinctive red cap and red breast. Its upperparts are black with white bars, and its tail black with white tips. The underparts and shoulder are white. The female is an undistinguished grey-brown. The robin has a small black bill and eyes.
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[edit] Taxonomy
Initially thought to be related to flycatchers, the Red-capped Robin was described as Muscicapa goodenovii by Nicholas Aylward Vigors and Thomas Horsfield in 1827,[1] before later transferral to the genus Petroica. The specific epithet goodenovii honours the Reverend Samuel Goodenough, Bishop of Carlisle and first treasurer of the Linnean Society. It has also been referred to as Redhead.[2]
Like all Australian Robins, it is not closely related to either the European Robin or the American Robin, but belongs rather to the Corvida parvorder comprising many tropical and australian passerines including pardalotes, Fairy-wrens and honeyeaters as well as crows. It belongs to the genus Petroica, whose Australian members are known colloquially as "Red Robins" as distinct from the "Yellow Robins" of the genus Eopsaltria. It is one of five red- or pink-breasted species in Australia.
[edit] Description
Birds are around 12 cm (5 in) in length and weigh around 7-9 g (0.25-0.31 oz). The male has a distinctive scarlet cap and breast. Its upperparts are dull black with white bars, and its tail black with white tips. The underparts and shoulder are white. The female is an undistinguished grey-brown above with a reddish tint to the crown, and paler underneath with dark brown wings and pale buff wing patch. Some females have a reddish tint to the breast. The robin has a small black bill,[3] and dark brown iris and legs. Immature birds resemble the female.[2]
A variety of calls have been recorded, described as 'tinkle' and 'blurt' songs. These are similar across mainland Australia but distinct on Rottnest Island.[4]
[edit] Distribution and habitat
The Red-capped Robin is found in dry scrub across Australia except for Tasmania, the Top End and Cape York. It is generally encountered alone or in pairs.[3] Once common on the Cumberland Plain in Sydney's western suburbs, it has now almost disappeared from the Sydney Basin.[5] Offshore populations exist on Flinders Island in Bass Strait, and Greenly and Pearson Islands off the Eyre Peninsula, as well as Rottnest Island.[6] It is a winter visitor in the northern parts of its range.[7]
The Red-capped Robin prefers more arid habitat to other robins, and inhabits dryer areas while the Scarlet Robin occupies wetter forests where they co-occur.[6]
[edit] Behaviour
The female Red-capped Robin has been reported as being fairly tame, while the male is more wary of human contact.[8] The species consumes insects and small arthropods.[2]
[edit] Breeding
Breeding season is late winter to early summer with up to three broods raised.[9] The nest is a neat deep cup made of soft dry grass and bark. Spider webs, feathers and fur are used for binding/filling, generally in a tree fork or even mistletoe.[10] Two to three dull white eggs tinted bluish, greyish or brownish and splotched with dark grey-brown are laid measuring 16 mm x 13 mm.[11] Females alone develop brood patches and incubate though both sexes feed the young. Hatchlings take two weeks to fledge.[9] The Red-capped Robin may be parasitised by the Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoo (Chalcites basalis).[7]
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ Vigors, N.A. & Horsfield, T. (1827). "A description of the Australian birds in the collection of the Linnean Society; with an attempt at arranging them according to their natural affinities.". Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 15: 170–331.[245]
- ^ a b c Boles, p. 93
- ^ a b Simpson K, Day N, Trusler P (1993). Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Ringwood, Victoria: Viking O'Neil, p. 174. ISBN 0-670-90478-3.
- ^ Baker MC, Baker EM, Baker MSA (2003). "Songs of the Red-capped Robin, Petroica goodenovii: comparison of acoustic features in island and mainland populations". Emu 103 (4): 329–335. CSIRO Publishing. doi:.
- ^ Roberts, Peter (1993). Birdwatcher's Guide to the Sydney Region. Kenthurst, New South Wales: Kangaroo Press, p. 127. ISBN 0-86417-565-5.
- ^ a b Boles, Walter E. (1988). The Robins and Flycatchers of Australia. Sydney: Angus & Robertson, p. 85. ISBN 0-207-15400-7.
- ^ a b Boles, p. 86
- ^ Boles, p. 90
- ^ a b Dowling DK (2003). "Breeding biology of the red-capped robin". Australian Journal of Zoology 51 (6): 533–549. CSIRO Publishing. doi:.
- ^ Cooney SJN, Watson DM, Young J (2006). "Mistletoe nesting in Australian birds: a review". Emu 106: 1–12. CSIRO Publishing.
- ^ Beruldsen, G (2003). Australian Birds: Their Nests and Eggs. Kenmore Hills, Qld: self, p. 341-2. ISBN 0-646-42798-9.
[edit] Additional sources
- BirdLife International (2004). Petroica goodenovii. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 3 June 2007. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern.
- Red-capped Robin. Birds in Backyards. Australian Museum. Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
