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Flame Robin
Petroica phoenicea
Conservation Status
Vulnerable species in New South Wales (Threatened Species Conservation Act).
What does it look like?
It is a small (14 cm) songbird with dark grey upperparts, orange-red underparts from chin to belly, a small white forehead spot, and white flashes in the wings and tail. The female is brown with white flashes in the wings and tail. (from NSW Government – Office of Environment and Heritage – vulnerable species listing)
Where does it live?
The Flame Robin is found in south-eastern Australia. In NSW it breeds in upland (up to 1800 m above sea level) moist eucalypt forests and woodlands, often on ridges and slopes, in areas of open understorey. It migrates in winter to more open lowland habitats such as grassland with scattered trees and open woodland on the inland slopes and plains.
What do they eat?
They forage from low perches, feeding on invertebrates taken from the ground, tree trunks, logs and other coarse woody debris. The Robin feeds on insects, spiders and other small arthropods. Birds take prey from the ground, pouncing on it from exposed lookouts, then return to a perch to eat. Outside of the breeding season, Flame Robins often forage in scattered flocks, but are otherwise seen alone.
What is their life cycle?
The Robin builds an open cup nest of plant fibres and cobweb, which is often near the ground in a sheltered niche, ledge or shallow cavity in a tree, stump or bank. Generation length has been estimated as 5 years. There may be two disjunct breeding populations in NSW on the Northern Tablelands and the Central-Southern Tablelands.
Updated: 27 Jun 2011
Related Links
- Flame Robin - NSW Government - Vulnerable Species Listing