Red-capped Robin

1. Males have a vivid scarlet crown and breast with sharply defined black and white plumage.

2. Both sexes show white patches on the wings and tail, but females are grey-brown with a reddish crown.

3. Juveniles look like females but are streakier and lack red tones.

These robins are insectivores, hunting mainly by perching low and pouncing on prey on the ground. Breeding occurs from August to January, with females building neat, camouflaged cup nests in tree or shrub forks, often decorated with lichen and spider webs. Females lay 2-3 eggs. Only the female incubates them, but both parents feed the young. Red-capped Robins can raise several broods in a season and are known for their persistence, sometimes making multiple nesting attempts if earlier ones fail. Adults may perform broken-wing distraction displays to protect nests from predators. They are territorial during the breeding season, with pairs defending small areas.

Red-capped Robins are widespread across inland Australia, preferring dry woodlands, mallee, mulga, and scrublands with scattered trees and open ground for foraging. They are largely absent from Tasmania, Cape York, the Top End, and most of the Kimberley. Look for them perched on low branches, fence posts, or shrubs, often in pairs or small family groups. Active during the cooler parts of the day, they are most visible in the early morning and late afternoon.