Eastern Yellow Robin
Eopsaltria australis· 鸲鹟科(4 photos)
Eastern Yellow Robin
15-16 cm. Grey above, washed olive on lower back/rump; breast clear yellow; legs blackish.
chrysorrhos: bright yellow rump. Juvenile: rich brown, streaked paler. Immature: like patchy adult; buffish wingmark. Singles, pairs, parties: confiding; flirts wings, cocks tail. Hangs sideways on trunks; pounces on prey. In flight, pale wingbar; bright yellow rump in race chrysorrhos.
- Similar Species
- Pale-yellow Robin, Golden Whistler.
- Voice
- explosive 'chyop-chyop!'; monotonous piping; scolding 'k-k-kair'; soft, squealing whistles.
- Habitat
- rainforest, vine forest, scrubby eucalypt woodland/forest; timbered gullies, swamp woodlands, coast tea-tree/banksia scrubs, mallee, broombush, cypress-pine thickets; mulga, brigalow, other acacia scrubs; snow gum woodlands in summer; orchards, golf courses, gardens.
- Breeding
- communally, June-Dec.
- Nest
- substantial cup of bark shreds, spiders' web, lined with grass, leaves; decorated with bark, lichen, moss; in fork to 1-7+ m.
- Eggs
- 2-3; apple-green/blue-green, dotted, blotched, brownish red, yellow-brown, lilac.
- Range & Status
- e. Aust. Nominate race: far se. SA, coastally n. to Hunter R. (NSW), n. inland to Upper Dawson R. (Q). Extends w. to Naracoorte-Murray mallee (SA); Little Desert-Echuca (Vic.); Deniliquin-Roto-Cobar (NSW); Idalia NP (Q). Race chrysorrhos: coastal/mountain forests from ne. NSW to Cooktown (Q). Common. Sedentary; altitudinal migrant; quits highlands in autumn-winter.
- Distribution key to races
- 1. Eopsaltria australis australis 2. Eopsaltria australis chrysorrhos
