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18

Crimson Chat

(Epthianura tricolor)
Alternate name(s): "Tri-coloured Chat", "Crimson-breasted Nun"
Size: 11-12 cm
Weight: 10-11 g
Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Crimson Chat at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Frontal view of a male Crimson Chat in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Windorah, QLD, August 2022]

Frontal view of a puffed-up male Crimson Chat in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Goschen Bushland Reserve, near Swan Hill, VIC, September 2019]

Near-frontal view of a male Crimson Chat in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Goschen Bushland Reserve, near Swan Hill, VIC, September 2019]

Near-frontal view of a male Crimson Chat in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, June 2019]

Lateral view of a male Crimson Chat in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, August 2016]

Lateral view of a moulting male Crimson Chat (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, June 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a male Crimson Chat in breeding plumage launching itself into the air (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Goschen Bushland Reserve, near Swan Hill, VIC, September 2019]

Dorsal view of a male Crimson Chat in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Currawinya NP, QLD, October 2012]

Dorsal view of a male Crimson Chat in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, August 2016]

Dorsal view of a moulting male Crimson Chat (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, June 2019]

Dorsal/ventral view of a male Crimson Chat in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Windorah, QLD, August 2022]

This shot of a male Crimson Chaton on stony ground shows that on the right surface even a red, white and black plumage can provide some camouflage (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Near Mungeranie, Birdsville Track, SA, June 2015]

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of a male Crimson Chat in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Barkley Highway, 50 km NW of Mount Isa, QLD, June 2021]

FEMALE

BREEDING

Frontal view of a female Crimson Chat in breeding plumage
[Currawinya NP, QLD, September 2012]

Near-frontal view of a female Crimson Chat in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Goschen Bushland Reserve, near Swan Hill, VIC, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of a female Crimson Chat in non-breeding plumage flapping its wings, thereby showing its grey underwings
[Lake Bindegolly NP, near Thargomindah, QLD, June 2019]

Lateral view of a female Crimson Chat in breeding plumage
[Currawinya NP, QLD, September 2012]

Lateral view of a female Crimson Chat in breeding plumage, slightly different posture
[Currawinya NP, near Hungerford, QLD, September 2012]

Near-dorsal view of a female Crimson Chat in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Goschen Bushland Reserve, near Swan Hill, VIC, September 2019]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a female Crimson Chat in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Dorsal view of a female Crimson Chat in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Hopetoun, VIC, October 2019]

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of a female Crimson Chat in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Bindegolly NP, near Thargomindah, QLD, June 2020]

Near-lateral view of a female Crimson Chat in non-breeding plumage
[Lake Bindegolly NP, near Thargomindah, QLD, June 2019]

Lateral view of a female Crimson Chat in non-breeding plumage
[Lake Bindegolly NP, near Thargomindah, QLD, June 2019]

PAIR

Pair of Crimson Chats in breeding plumage - female on the right (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-dorsal/ventral view of an immature male Crimson Chat; note the red hue above the lore (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Windorah, QLD, August 2022]

Lateral view of a begging juvenile Crimson Chat (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a begging juvenile Crimson Chat (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Food, Diet

Lateral view of a male Crimson Chat in breeding plumage with a caterpillar (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Hopetoun, VIC, October 2019]

Frontal view of a female Crimson Chat in breeding plumage carrying caterpillars for its brood (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Hopetoun, VIC, October 2019]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

crmchat_20190617.m4a (SW QLD) ? © MD
crmchat_20190619.m4a (SW QLD) ? © MD

More Crimson Chat sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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