Western Yellow Robin

1. Bright yellow belly and undertail separated from the white throat by a grey upper breast band.

2. Black lores and pale grey eyebrow create a distinctive facial pattern.

3. Yellow rump and pale wing stripe visible in flight.

Primarily insectivorous, Western Yellow Robins catch most of their prey on the ground, often near fallen logs where insects are plentiful. They hunt by perching quietly before making short flights or pounces to the ground. Breeding occurs from July to early January, peaking between September and November. Females build cup-shaped nests lined with bark strips and spider webs, usually placed about 3 metres above ground in tree forks. Breeding pairs often receive help from one or two helper birds, usually offspring from previous broods, which assist in feeding the incubating female and nestlings. Incubation lasts about 15 days, and clutches typically contain two or three pale eggs marked with reddish-brown spots.

Western Yellow Robins inhabit open eucalypt forests, woodlands, mallee, and scrub across southwestern Australia and isolated parts of South Australia’s Eyrean Peninsula. They prefer areas with a thick understory, leaf litter, and fallen logs, which support abundant insect prey. They are most active at dawn and early morning, often seen perched on low branches or tree trunks scanning the ground before pouncing. Their slow, repetitive “chew-chew-chew” whistling call carries well through the forest. In winter, they may join mixed-species feeding flocks.