Species · GBIF taxon 2489321
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
Licensed referenceJJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
- diet
- Invertebrates, primarily insects and spiders
- family
- Petroicidae
- threats
- Habitat loss, climate change, and predation by feral cats
- life Span
- 5 to 8 years
NT
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Populations are declining due to habitat clearance, degradation of woodland habitats, and climate-induced changes to subalpine breeding grounds.
Avoid disturbing foraging birds in open paddocks and stay clear of active nests in subalpine forests.- 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.