Behaviour Red-capped robin

male in breeding plumage vocalising,

eulo in southwestern queensland

the red-capped robin encountered alone or in pairs, although groups of 8 birds—a mated pair , young—may seen in autumn , winter. species may join mixed-species flocks other small insectivorous passerines; species recorded include willie wagtail (rhipidura leucophrys), southern whiteface (aphelocephala leucopsis), rufous whistler (pachycephala rufiventris) , black-faced woodswallow (artamus cinereus) in queensland, , chestnut-rumped thornbill (acanthiza uropygialis), buff-rumped thornbill (a. reguloides) or inland thornbill (a. apicalis) in western australia.

the red-capped robin typically perches in prominent location low ground, flicking wings , tail. active , not stay still long. female has been reported being tame, while male more wary of human contact.

the red-capped robin territorial during breeding season; area occupied has been measured between 0.25 , 1.2 ha (0.6–3 acres). pair lives , forages within territory before dispersing in autumn. male proclaims ownership singing loudly suitable perch @ territory boundary, , confronts other males harsh scolding call should make incursion. 2 males have been seen face 1 30 cm 1 m (12–40 in) apart, flicking wings , manoeuvring position in threat display while female incubating eggs. both sexes react playback of song recordings. male defend against incursions male scarlet robins, , conversely avoid foraging in latter species territories. juvenile red-capped robins unable live in territories occupied adult birds, , need travel find unoccupied land; furthest dispersal recorded date has been 36 km (22 mi), terrick terrick national park across farmland gunbower state forest in northern victoria.

breeding

the breeding season takes place on 5 months august january 3 broods raised. male proposes suitable nest sites female rubbing body on suitable tree fork, while trilling continuously. may indicate several sites before female makes decision build, @ point constructs nest alone. nest neat, deep cup made of soft dry grass , bark. spider webs, feathers , fur used binding or filling, , nest placed in tree fork or mistletoe bush. may decorated lichen , camouflaged blend in surroundings. 2 3 dull white eggs tinted bluish, greyish or brownish , splotched dark grey-brown laid on consecutive days, measuring 16 mm × 13 mm (0.6 × 0.5 in). females alone develop brood patches , incubate, although both sexes feed young. male keep lookout either on nest or perched on nearby branch, rather brood while female foraging, , parents feed young , dart off if there predators in vicinity. extra-pair mating , fertilisation common, 23% of nestlings , 37% of broods having different father 1 rearing them, , there evidence extra-pair couplings more produce male birds.

like passerines, chicks altricial; born blind , covered thin layer of down. 7 days, stretching wings , preening, , @ 2 weeks able fly. parents feed young @ least 3 weeks after leaving nest, , have been recorded giving them spiders, , insects such flies , moths. males take on feeding young when females begin renesting next brood. in field study near cooma in southern new south wales, fledglings observed disperse natal territory after 4 6 weeks single brood year, , in less week on both occasions in pair raised 2 broods in season. long breeding season , multiple broods therein adaptation mild climate , high levels of predation. despite this, on average 2 young fledged per year.

the brush cuckoo (cacomantis variolosus), pallid cuckoo (c. pallidus), horsfield s bronze cuckoo (chrysococcyx basalis), , black-eared cuckoo (c. osculans) have been recorded brood parasites of red-capped robin; female cuckoos lay eggs in robin nests, raised robins own. red-capped robins have been observed particularly aggressive in driving horsfield s bronze cuckoos territories in terrick terrick national park in field study, , no nests found parasitised there.

feeding

the diet consists of insects , other small arthropods. 1 study of red-capped robin faeces conducted near kambalda, western australia, revealed 96% of diet made of beetles, while ants made remainder. other prey recorded include spiders, , insects such grasshoppers including australian plague locust (chortoicetes terminifera), adult , larval butterflies , moths, including geometer moths, dragonflies , damselflies, mantises, antlions, true bugs, including chinch bugs of family lygaeidae , shield bugs, various types of beetles, earwigs, , flies such blow-flies , horse-flies.

the red-capped robin pounces on prey on ground, although can swoop , catch creatures while airborne. less often, gleans (takes prey while perched) in low-lying vegetation, less 3 m (10 ft) above ground. prey commonly on ground when caught, although airborne insects taken. low branch may used vantage point in hunting.