Scarlet Robin

I’m not sure why it has taken so long for me to post about this enchanting bird on this site. The Scarlet Robin gets a mention a couple of times in posts on a sister site – The Friends of Drouin’s Trees – mainly in relation to the conservation of habitat.

Scarlet Robin male - Grantville NCR

Many people include the ‘robin redbreast’ as one of their favourite birds. They probably mean the Scarlet Robin, but we do have several red-breasted robins in Australia. The most common robin redbreast in this district is more likely to be the Flame Robin an equally enchanting but different species. This post is prompted by a recent sighting of a pair of Scarlet Robins at The Gurdies NCR in Grantville.

Scarlet Robin - Grantville NCR

The Scarlet Robin, Petroica boodang, (‘petroica’ means rock-dweller – go figure, and ‘boodang’ is a native name for the bird) is listed as ‘vulnerable’ in NSW but considered secure in Victoria, despite there seeming to be ample anecdotal evidence of significant declines in its populations in this state.

Scarlet Robin male - enchanting and often obliging

Scarlet Robins tend to inhabit drier woodlands and forests with plenty of litter and fallen logs on the ground.

Scarlet Robin female - more subtle, just as endearing

In some localities, the Scarlet Robin seems to be sedentary, and always present from season to season. Mostly though, in this district, the birds disperse to the foothills or higher country for breeding and return, faithfully to their territories, in the lower regions in winter.

Left: Scarlet Robin – black and white upperparts, scarlet chest and belly, BLACK chin. Right: Flame Robin – dark-grey and white upperparts, flame red chest, belly AND chin.

 The Scarlet Robin is usually seen in pairs and not family groups. However pairs will often mix with other small insectivorous species when foraging, using their perch-and-pounce technique.