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Flame Robin

Did you know?

Flame Robins are the only robins to form flocks in winter.

Calls
Flame Robins have an attractive song. The high-pitched musical trill has three sets of three notes, which have been interpreted as "you may come if you wish to the sea".
Facts and Figures
Research Species: 
No
Minimum Size: 
12cm
Maximum Size: 
14cm
Average size: 
13cm
Average weight: 
14g
Breeding season: 
August to January
Clutch Size: 
3 to 4
Incubation: 
14 days
Nestling Period: 
16 days
Conservation Status
Federal: 
Secure
NSW: 
Secure
NT: 
Not present
QLD: 
Secure
SA: 
Rare
TAS: 
Secure
VIC: 
Secure
WA: 
Not present
Basic Information
Scientific Name: 
Petroica phoenicea
Featured bird groups: 
Small insect-eating birds
Atlas Number: 
382
What does it look like?
Description: 

Male Flame Robins have a bright orange breast and throat, and are white on the lower belly and undertail. The top of their head and back is dark slate grey and there is a clear white stripe on the folded wing. The bill is black and the legs dark brown. The female is quite different from the male, being mostly grey-brown with a pale buff wing stripe, and a mostly white outer tail feather. Young Flame Robins resemble the adult female, but the brown of the back is heavily streaked with buff and the pale belly is streaked with brown.

Similar species: 

The male Flame Robin may be confused with the male Scarlet Robin,Petroica multicolor. This species is black above and on the head, extending to the throat, with a scarlet breast and upper belly. Female and young Flame Robins can easily be confused with those of several other robin species. The main difference is that the outermost tail feather is white, and the next one has only a white edging.

Where does it live?
Distribution: 

Flame Robins are found in a broad coastal band around the south-east corner of the Australian mainland, from southern Queensland to just west of the South Australian border. The species is also found in Tasmania.

Habitat: 

Flame Robins prefer forests and woodlands up to about 1800 m above sea level.

Seasonal movements: 

In winter, Flame Robins may move to lower and more open areas, including gardens, and some Tasmanian birds move to the mainland.

What does it do?
Feeding: 

Flame Robins feed 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.

Breeding: 

The Flame Robin may lay up to two clutches during breeding season. The eggs are pale green or blue eggs, spotted with brown marks. These marks are mostly at the larger end. The nest is built by the female, and is a grass and bark cup, bound with spider web and decorated with lichen. It is normally placed in a cavity in a tree or rock face, or other similar area up to 20 m above the ground. The female also incubates the eggs, while the male supplies her with food. Both sexes feed the young chicks.

References: 
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia.
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds
The Robins and Flycatchers of Australia
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