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Red-capped Robin

(Petroica goodenovii)
Alternative name: "Redhead"
Aboriginal names: "awi irta" [Yura Ngawarla], "wi-oombeen", "guniibuu" [yuwaalaraay]
Size: 11-12 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Red-capped Robins populate essentially the entire southern part of the Australian continent, up to the tropic of Capricorn, with a few exceptions. They are only rarely found in the Nullarbor, at Lake Eyre and to the north of it, in the direction of Mt. Isa, QLD, and along the eastern coastal fringe north of the Hunter River valley in NSW. They do not appear south of the Great Dividing Range in VIC at all and not in Tasmania either. In the north their range extends a bit beyond the tropic of Capricorn in the central NT and in central QLD.

During their breeding season Red-capped Robins can usually be found in dry forest, scrub or more open woodland. Outside the breeding season they tend to disperse into more varied habitats. They can often be seen hunting from low perches on dead branches in remant growth on paddocks, where foliage has been nibbled off by stock.

Sightings

The first sighting of a Red-capped Robin was in February 2006, in Jack's Creek State Forest, 30 km south of Narrabri, NSW. Next seen in May of 2006, on our former neighbour's property, 20 km south of Narrabri. Seen regularly in various parts of the Pilliga scrub in subsequent years.

Spotted also in December 2006 and September 2007 20 km west of Narrabri, in March and September 2007 also 20 km east of Narrabri. From then on they were absent from the place where we live for a few years. The next sighting 20 km east of Narrabri was in May 2011, when a pair came hunting for insects from low perches. They immediately received a "warm welcome" from a recently arrived pair of Jacky Winters.

Seen in the semi-arid to arid environment of western NSW and eastern South Australia, most prominently in Mt. Gundabooka National Park, 50 km south of Bourke, in March 2008. At Mt. Gundabooka NP Red-capped Robins were found in abundance.

Photos

Frontal view of a male Red-capped Robin

Near-frontal view of a bird that has been digging in mud

Lateral view of the same bird as above

Lateral view of a male Red-capped Robin on the ground

Different perspective

Male bird seen from behind

Near-frontal view of a female Red-capped Robin

Here a lateral view of a female Red-capped Robin

Different perspective; this bird sat conveniently at eye height

Back of a female Red-capped Robin

Again a different perspective

...plus a close-up shot

Unusual colour pattern of what must be an immature male Red-capped Robin developing its red patches, but not yet the black feathers to cover the rest of the head and its back

Frontal view of a male is in an earlier stage of its development, with the red tinge just starting to show, most prominently on its crown

Lateral view of the same male bird, hunting from a fencepost

Lateral view of a male at the same stage of its development, in the spring of its first year

Frontal view of an immature female bird

Lateral view of an immature female bird

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Dispersive Elementary unit: Pair

Food

Like all other robins (all families), Red-capped Robins are flycatchers. Most robins hunt for insects from low to mid-level perches.

Female Red-capped Robin that has caught an insect (looks like a grasshopper)

Immature male with a juicy caterpillar