Land
Red-capped Robin

A brilliant plume of red Red-capped Robin

Noongar name - Demokarlitj

Hear all about it!

The Red-capped Robin is most commonly found in dry areas with little water like Rottnest Island. They can be found in the Island’s Tea Tree woodland and they also live in the Wattle thickets. You might be lucky enough to spot them around Bickley swamp or Henrietta Rocks.

The Red-capped Robin is the smallest of Australia’s five red-breasted robins. It has been present on Rottnest since the Island was cut off from mainland about 7,000 years ago and It is believed to be genetically slightly different from the mainland population.

Habitat: Woodland

Description: The male Red-capped Robin is one of the most distinctive birds on the Island. This is because of its bright red cap and breast. The rest of his upper surfaces are mostly black and he has a white wing bar. His under surfaces are mostly white and his tail is black with white edges. The female Red-capped Robin doesn’t have a red breast. She has a reddish patch on her forehead, pale brown upper surfaces, and her tail and some of her wing feathers have white edges. Her under surfaces are an off-white. Both male and female have brown eyes, a black bill and black legs.

Diet: Spiders, scorpions, caterpillars, moths, flying ants, other insects

Body length: 10-12 centimetres

Weight: 8-13 grams

Number of young: 1-3 (2-3 eggs)

Gestation period: 14-16 days

Where you can find a Red-capped Robin

Conservation Status

Not listed under IUCN (2016). All Rottnest Island’s fauna is protected under the Rottnest Island Authority Act.

Extinct
Extinct in Wild
Critically Endangered
Endangered
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Least Concerned

Help keep Rottnest healthy

Do ride carefully on the Island
Do keep to designated tracks
Do enjoy watching them on their own terms

Red-capped Robin Gallery

Hey there! Did you know...

Red-capped Robins use cobwebs as a glue to make their unusually beautiful nests. The nest is often covered with lichen and moss to camouflage it. The female selects a site in a tree-fork and then takes great care to build the nest. During her nest building, the male feeds her.

Want to know more?

Download the Red-capped Robin fact file!

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