Rose Robin

Male Rose Robin. While photographing birds beside a rainforest stream, this Rose Robin suddenly appeared. It flew back and forth, landing on perches along the stream as it searched for insects to feed on. Its distinctive rose-coloured breast made it instantly recognisable as a male.

Physical Appearance

The Rose Robin is a small bird with a slate-grey back, white belly and, in males, a distinctive rose-pink breast. Females are more subdued, with lighter grey-brown plumage and a less noticeable pink wash on the breast. The male also has a small white patch above the bill and white outer tail feathers.

Habitat

Rose Robins are found across south-eastern Australia, where they favour wet forests and rainforests.

Behaviour

Insect hunters: Rose Robins primarily feed on insects and spiders, often catching them while flying. They frequently launch from a perch to pursue prey before moving to another perch.
Acrobatic flight: Unlike many other Australian robins, Rose Robins are particularly agile in flight. They can dart and tumble through the canopy as they chase insects, giving them a somewhat fantail-like appearance.
Seasonal movement: Many Rose Robins move to different areas during autumn and winter. In Victoria, many leave their breeding areas and move north along the east coast, although some remain in the state.

Breeding

Nesting: Rose Robins build a compact, cup-shaped nest using materials such as moss, plant fibres and spider webs. The nest is usually placed in a tree fork or towards the end of a branch and may be camouflaged with lichen.
Breeding: The female incubates the eggs, while both parents help feed the young.
Cuckoo hosts: Rose Robin nests can sometimes be parasitised by cuckoos, which lay their eggs in the robin's nest for the robin parents to raise.