Dusky Robin

Overview

The dusky robin (Melanodryas vittata) is a small passerine bird native to Tasmania, belonging to the Australian robin family Petroicidae. It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is known by numerous local names, including Dozey, Sad, and Stump Robin.

Identification

• A sombre dark brown bird measuring 14–16.5 cm in length, with a short, slender bill and a moderately long tail.
• Distinguished by a narrow dark line running from behind the eye to the rear of the ear-coverts, bordered above by a cream supercilium, and white bars on the wings.
• Adults are uniform in colour, making it almost impossible to differentiate males from females, though juveniles are heavily streaked off-white on the head and back.
• Emits a mournful, melancholic song described as a low, monotonic 'Choo-wee, Choo-we-er', often heard at dawn.

Habitat

Endemic to Tasmania, where it is widespread from sea level to 1,200 m above sea level. It inhabits open environments such as dry sclerophyll forest, coastal heathland, sedgeland, and Button Grass plains, favouring ecotones between forests and clearings or recently burnt areas.

Did you know?

The species is a cooperative breeder, with two or three adult robins, presumably male, helping to feed the female while she incubates the eggs. Early settlers named it the 'Stump robin' because of its habit of perching on tree stumps or posts.