- Red-capped Robin
Taxobox
name = Red-capped Robin
status = LC
status_system = iucn3.1
image size = 200px
image caption =
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia =Petroicidae
genus = "Petroica "
species = "P. goodenovii "
binomial = "Petroica goodenovii "
binomial_authority = (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827)
range_
range_map_width=200px
range_map_caption=Red-capped Robin rangeThe Red-capped Robin ("Petroica goodenovii") is a small
passerine bird native toAustralia . Like many brightly coloured robins of thePetroicidae , 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. It is predominantly ground-feeding and insectivorous.Taxonomy
Initially thought to be related to
flycatcher s, the Red-capped Robin was described as "Muscicapa goodenovii" byNicholas Aylward Vigors andThomas Horsfield in 1827, [cite journal | author = Vigors, N.A. & Horsfield, T. | date = 1827 | title = A description of the Australian birds in the collection of the Linnean Society; with an attempt at arranging them according to their natural affinities. | journal = Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. | volume = 15 | pages = 170–331 [245] ] before later transferral to the genus "Petroica ". The generic name is derived from theAncient Greek words "petro-" "rock" and "oikos" "home", from birds' habits of sitting on rocks. [Boles, p. 66] The specific epithet "goodenovii" honours the ReverendSamuel Goodenough , Bishop of Carlisle and first treasurer of the Linnean Society. It has also been referred to as "Redhead", "Redcap", "Robin Red-breast" or "Red-throated Robin". "Kuburi" is a name from the Kimberley.cite book |title=Gadi Mirrabooka: Australian Aboriginal Tales from the Dreaming |author=McKay HF, McLeod PE, Jones FF, Barker JE |year=2001 |publisher=Libraries Unlimited |location= |isbn=1563089238 |pages=p. 100 ]The Red-capped Robin is one of five red- or pink-breasted species of robin in the genus "Petroica"; they are colloquially known as "Red Robins" as distinct from the "Yellow Robins" of the genus "
Eopsaltria ". Although named after theEuropean Robin , is not closely related to it or theAmerican Robin . Along with the other Australian robins, it was classified for many years as a member of the old world flycatcher familyMuscicapidae , [Boles, p. xv] before being placed in the whistler familyPachycephalidae .Boles, p. 35] The robins were also placed in their own familyPetroicidae , or Eopsaltridae.Sibley and Alquist's
DNA-DNA hybridisation studies placed the robins in aCorvida parvorder comprising many tropical and Australian passerines including pardalotes, fairy-wrens and honeyeaters as well ascrow s. However, subsequent molecular research (and current consensus) places the robins as a very early offshoot of thePasserida ("advanced" songbirds). [cite journal |author=Barker, F. Keith; Cibois, Alice; Schikler, Peter A.; Feinstein, Julie & Cracraft, Joel |year=2004|title=Phylogeny and diversification of the largest avian radiation. |journal=PNAS |volume=101 |issue=30 |pages=11040-45 |doi=10.1073/pnas.0401892101 |url=http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/0401892101v1.pdf PDF fulltext|format=pdf|accessdate=2008-08-14]Description
The smallest of the red robins, the Red-capped Robin is 10.5–12.5 cm (4–5 in) long with a wingspan of 15–19.5 cm (6–8 in), and weigh around 7–9 g (0.25–0.31 oz).Higgins "et al." p. 649] It has longer legs than other robins. The male has a distinctive scarlet cap and breast. Its upperparts are jet black with white shoulder bars, and its tail black with white tips. The underparts and shoulder are white. All colours are sharply delineated from one another. 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,cite book | author = Simpson K, Day N, Trusler P | title = Field Guide to the Birds of Australia | publisher = Viking O'Neil | date = 1993 | location = Ringwood, Victoria | pages = p. 174 | isbn = 0-670-90478-3] and dark brown iris and legs. Immature birds resemble the female.Boles, p. 93]
A variety of calls have been recorded, described as 'tinkle' and 'blurt' songs. These are similar across mainland Australia but distinct on
Rottnest Island . [cite journal
author = Baker MC, Baker EM, Baker MSA | title = Songs of the Red-capped Robin, "Petroica goodenovii": comparison of acoustic features in island and mainland populations | journal = Emu | volume = 103 | issue = 4 | pages = 329–335 | publisher = CSIRO Publishing | date = 2003 | url = http://publish.csiro.au/paper/MU03004.htm | doi = 10.1071/MU03004 | accessdate = 2007-06-07]Distribution and habitat
The Red-capped Robin is found across Australia except for
Tasmania , theTop End andCape York . Offshore populations exist onFlinders Island inBass Strait , and Greenly and Pearson Islands off theEyre Peninsula , as well as Rottnest Island.Boles, p. 85] Its movements are on the whole poorly known. It is sedentary in much the southern parts of its range, although is a spring and summer visitor to theNullarbor Plain and Adelaide region in South Australia, and central Victoria. It is a winter visitor in the northern parts of its range.The Red-capped Robin prefers more arid habitat than its relatives, and inhabits dryer areas while the Scarlet Robin occupies wetter forests where they co-occur. Its preferred habitat is dry "
Acacia ", "Callitris " or mixed scrubland or woodland, dominated by such species as Mulga ("Acacia aneura "), Georgina Gidgee ("Acacia georginae "), Raspberry Jam ("Acacia acuminata "), Black Cypress-pine ("Callitris endlicheri "), White Cypress-pine ("C. columellaris"), Slender Cypress-pine ("C. preissii") with understory shrubs such as "Cassia", hop-bush ("Dodonaea "), Emu bush ("Eremophila ") and spinifex ("Triodia ").Higgins "et al." p. 651]The species has generally fared badly with human change to the landscape. Once common on the
Cumberland Plain inSydney 's western suburbs, it has now almost disappeared from theSydney Basin . [cite book |last=Roberts |first=Peter |title=Birdwatcher's Guide to the Sydney Region |year=1993|pages=p. 127 |publisher=Kangaroo Press |location=Kenthurst, New South Wales |isbn=0-86417-565-5] It has also disappeared from the vicinity of Rockhampton in Queensland, and declined on Rottnest Island, and in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. Field studies in small patches of remnant vegetation indicate reduced survival rates there.Behaviour
The Red-capped Robin is generally encountered alone or in pairs, although may groups of up to eight birds—a mated pair and their young—may be seen in autumn and winter.Higgins "et al." p. 655] The species may join mixed species-flocks with other small insectivorous passerines; species recorded include the
Willie Wagtail ("Rhipidura leucophrys"),Southern Whiteface ("Aphelocephala leucopsis"),Rufous Whistler ("Pachycephala rufiventris") andBlack-faced Woodswallow ("Artamus cinereus") in Queensland, [cite journal |last=Britton |first=Peter L.|year=1997 |month=June |title=Winter Mixed Flocks at Charters Towers, North Queensland |journal=The Sunbird |volume=27 |issue=2 |pages=29-37] or theChestnut-rumped Thornbill ("Acanthiza uropygialis"),Buff-rumped Thornbill ("A. reguloides") orInland Thornbill ("A. apicalis") in Western Australia. [cite journal |last=Sedgwick |first=EH|year=1949 |title=Mixed associations of small birds in the south-west of Western Australia |journal=Emu |volume=49 |issue=1 |pages=9-13]The Red-capped Robin often perches in a prominent location low to the ground, often flicking its wings and tail. It is very active and doesn't stay still for long at all.Higgins "et al." p. 656] The female has been reported as being fairly tame, while the male is more wary of human contact. [Boles, p. 90]
The Red-capped Robin is territorial during the breeding season; the area occupied has been measured between 0.25 and 1.2 ha. A pair lives and forages within their territory before dispersing in the autumn. The male proclaims ownership by singing loudly from a suitable perch at the territory boundary, and confronts other males with a harsh scolding call should they make an incursion.cite journal |last=Coventry |first=PP |year=1988 |title=Notes on the breeding behaviour of the Red-capped Robin "Petroica goodenovii" |journal=Austr. Bird Watcher |volume=12 |pages=209-16] Two males have been seen to face off one another 30 cm to 1 m (12-40 in) apart, flicking wings and manoeuvring for position in a threat display while the female is actually incubating. Both sexes also react to the playback of recordings of songs.cite journal |author=Major RE, Christie FJ, Gowing G, Ivison TJ |year=1999|title=Age structure and density of Red-capped Robin populations vary with habitat size and shape |journal=Journal of Applied Ecology |volume=36|pages=901-08 |doi=10.1046/j.1365-2664.1999.00457.x |url=http://www.jstor.org/pss/2655868 |accessdate=2008-08-24] The male will also defend against incursions by male Scarlet Robins, and conversely avoid foraging in the latter species' territories. Little is known about movement patterns at other times of the year.
Feeding
The Red-capped Robin mostly pounces on prey on the ground, although can swoop and catch creatures while airborne. Less often, it gleans (takes prey while bird is perched) in low-lying vegetation, almost always less than 3 m (10 ft) above the ground. A low branch may be used as a vantage point in hunting.Higgins "et al." p. 654]
The diet consists of insects and small arthropods. One study of Red-capped Robin faeces conducted near
Kambalda, Western Australia revealed 96% of their diet was made up of beetles, whileant s made up the remainder. [cite journal |author=Morris WJ, Wooller RD |year=2001 |title=The structure and dynamics of an assemblage of small birds in a semi-arid eucalypt woodland in south-western Australia |journal=Emu |volume=101 |issue=1 |pages=7-12 |doi=10.1071/MU00062 |url=http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/MU00062.htm (abstract) |accessdate=2008-08-09] Other prey recorded include spiders, and insects such as grasshoppers including theAustralian plague locust ("Chortoicetes terminifera"), adult and larval butterflies and moths, includingGeometer moth s, dragonflies and damselflies,Mantis es,Antlion s, true bugs,earwig s, and flies such as blow-flies and horse-flies.Breeding
Breeding season is late winter to early summer with up to three broods raised. The nest is a neat, deep cup made of soft dry grass and bark.
Spider web s, feathers and fur are used for binding or filling, generally in a tree fork or even mistletoe. [cite journal | author = Cooney SJN, Watson DM, Young J | title = Mistletoe nesting in Australian birds: a review | journal = Emu | volume = 106 | pages = 1–12| publisher = CSIRO Publishing | date = 2006 | url = https://www.anu.edu.au/BoZo/stuart/Papers/MU040181.pdf | doi = | accessdate = 2007-06-07] It may be decorated with lichen and camouflaged to blend in with its surroundings. 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. [cite book | last = Beruldsen | first = G | title = Australian Birds: Their Nests and Eggs | publisher = self | date = 2003 | location = Kenmore Hills, Qld | pages = p. 341–2 | doi = | isbn = 0-646-42798-9] Females alone developbrood patch es and incubate, although both sexes feed the young. Hatchlings take two weeks tofledge .cite journal | author = Dowling DK | title = Breeding biology of the red-capped robin | journal = Australian Journal of Zoology | volume = 51 | issue = 6 | pages = 533–549 | publisher = CSIRO Publishing | date = 2003 | url = http://publish.csiro.au/paper/ZO03028.htm | doi = 10.1071/ZO03028 | accessdate = 2007-06-07] The Red-capped Robin may be parasitised by theHorsfield's Bronze-cuckoo "(Chalcites basalis)".Boles, p. 86]References
Notes
Cited texts
*cite book |title=The Robins and Flycatchers of Australia |last=Boles |first=Walter E.|year=1988 |publisher=Angus & Robertson |location=Sydney |isbn=0-207-15400-7
*cite book |title=Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds . Volume 6: Pardalotes to Shrike-thrushes. |author=Higgins PJ, Peter JM "(eds)" |year=2002 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Melbourne |isbn=0-19-553762-9Additional sources
* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern.
*
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.