White-faced Robin

1. Olive-green back, bright yellow belly, black head, and bold white facial markings

2. Small, round appearance and habit of perching on trunks or low branches

3. Juveniles are paler and less distinctly marked than adults

White-faced Robins feed mainly on insects, foraging by pouncing to the ground, gleaning from foliage, or making short flights to catch prey. They breed from around September to January, with females building neat cup-shaped nests, often decorated with moss and placed in upright forks of saplings or lawyer-vines several metres above the ground. Females lay 2 eggs. The species is highly sedentary.

This robin is restricted to tropical rainforests and vine thickets of northern Cape York Peninsula, especially around Iron Range National Park. It is not found further south, such as in the Cairns region. Look for them in the lower and middle levels of dense rainforest, particularly where there is thick undergrowth. Early morning is the best time to observe them, as they are most active and vocal. They are usually seen singly or in pairs, perching on low branches or tree trunks before darting to the ground for insects.