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LC    Dusky Robin* Id (Atlas): 386     Melanodryas vittata Endemic Description Dusky Robin © bushpea.com   Sexes alike. Adults: Above, dark grey-brown. Wings and tail, dusky, with off-white band in base of flight feathers, and outer tail tipped white. Throat, off-white. Below, light brown, with center of belly, white. Eye, brown. Bill, black. Feet, black. Juveniles: Coursly streaked above and mottled below with brown and white. Immatures: Uniformly brown. Other Names (World) Dusky Robin, Sad Robin, Sleepy Robin, Stump Robin, Tasmanian Robin, Wood Robin, Dozey Robin, Native Sparrow, Sad Bird Family Petroicidae (Australasian Robins) Size 16 - 17 cm First Described (Quoy & Gaimard, 1830) Derivation Mel-an'-o-dry'-as - Gk, melanos, black; Gk, dryas, a dryad or wood-nymph: vit-ta'-ta - L., vittatus, banded Abundance MC Common. Locally nomadic. Habitat Rainforest margins. Tracks, up to 1,200 m. Open forest, woodlands, scrubs, newly cleared areas, regrowth, country gardens. Range (Guide) Australia (B). © 2011 Birdpedia (Last update: 24/01/2011)   Tasmania and the Islands of Bass Strait.   Rarity Status Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated. Population Estimated population is unknown (2010). Status LC Probably secure. For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet. Habits Singly or in twos and sometimes threes, and after breeding in small groups, possibly family parties, of twelve to twenty. Food Beetles, flies, spiders, worms and snails. Voice Call: Low, far-carrying double whistle, monotonously repeated, by both sexes. Song: Lively and sweetly plaintive 'choo-wee, choo-we-er'. (38Kb) © ? (1) Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (17)...) Listen to XC496495   Dusky Robin (Melanodryas vittata) [XC496495]      by Tom Tarrant from Eugenana, Devonport City Council, Tasmania, Australia (call, flight call) Listen to XC204400   Dusky Robin (Melanodryas vittata) [XC204400]      by Andrew Spencer from South Bruny, Tasmania, Australia (call, song) Breeding Season August - December. J F M A M J J A S O N D Nest Cup-shaped, composed of rootlets and grass, placed on the side of a stump, at the end of a log, or in a small tree. Eggs Usually 3; pale green-blue to brown-olive with obscure darker shadings; oval; about 22 x 16 mm. Incubation: about 14 - 15 days. Two, sometimes three broods a season. Young Altricial, nidicolous. Fledge in about 13 - 16 days. Fed by both parents. Subspecies Subspecies kingi, is somewhat rustier in color than vittata. The following 2 subspecies are recognised: vittata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1830)   -  Tasmania and Furneaux Group, Bass Strait. kingi (Mathews, 1914)   -  King Island. Similar Species Female red robins, which are generally smaller, having some pink on breast, and a pale spot on forehead. Compare Images References See References. The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5 Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5 Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9 What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5 Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9