Bird
Flame Robin
Petroica phoeniceaAlso known as Robin Redbreast, Flame-breasted Robin, Bank Robin
Flame robins are active, upright songbirds that breed in cool, high-altitude forests before migrating to lower, more open woodlands and pastures for the winter. Males display a breathtaking, fiery orange-red breast that extends all the way up to the throat, contrasted by a small white spot just above the bill. These birds are renowned for their highly musical, descending song, which they often pour out from prominent, exposed perches.
MigratoryVocalistBrightly Colored
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyBeetles, Caterpillars, Spiders
Predators
- Feral Cats
- Laughing Kookaburras
- Currawongs
ThreatsHabitat loss, climate change, and predation by feral cats
HabitatsEucalypt forests, subalpine woodlands, open grasslands, and pastures
Life span5 to 8 years
Classification
- FamilyPetroicidae
- SpeciesPetroica phoenicea
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Look for a small, upright robin with a bright orange-red chest and throat, or a plain grey-brown female, in open woodlands during winter.
- Support conservation
- Avoid disturbing foraging birds in open paddocks and stay clear of active nests in subalpine forests.
Responsible observation
- Listen for the song: Look for them along fence lines or low branches where they perch to sing their sweet, cascading melody.
- Watch the ground: Observe their classic pounce-and-peer foraging technique as they dart down to snatch insects from the grass.
- Respect nesting sites: Keep a respectful distance during the spring breeding season when they nest in tree cavities or bark crevices.
Close Relative (c) Graham Winterflood, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Graham Winterflood · cc-by-sa
Image unavailableClose Relative 
Close Relative (c) Andrew Allen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Andrew Allen · cc-byClose Relative
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