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Dusky Robin
(Melanodryas vittata)
: "Dozey", "Dozey Robin", "Stump Robin", "Wood Robin", "Tasmanian Robin",
"Sleepy Robin", "Sad bird"; misnomer: "Native Sparrow"
Size: 16-17 cm
Weight: 21-31 g
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Dusky Robins are large robins that are almost all-grey (the
brownish tinge shown in drawings in parts of the literature
is often exaggerated). The front, from chin to undertail
coverts, is light-grey, while the head and back (nape of
the neck, mantle, rump) is mid-grey. The flight feathers
and the tail, both of which have thin white lining at the
tips, are dark-grey. Any trace of brown in
adult
Dusky Robins
is minute and usually limited to the cap and nape of the
neck. The irises are dark-brown. The bill, legs and feet are
dark-grey.
Juvenile
Dusky Robins have highly
cryptic
plumage.
Juvenile
birds are
brownish-grey, with more brown on the head and back/wings
than on the front, and some remnant light-grey streaking
on the head and nape of the neck. Their flight feathers
have broader white tips than those of
adult
birds.
Juvenile
and fledgling Dusky Robins are grey-brown, with a
strong brown tinge and lighter grey streaking on the back.
The front is scalloped grey-brown. The belly is off-white
with only some darker streaking. They also still show an
orange-yellow gape.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Dusky
Robin at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Dusky Robin is available
HERE
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There are two races of Dusky Robins, both of which are endemic
to Tasmania and other
islands along
Bass Strait.
Nominate race
"vittata"
is found basically everywhere in Tasmania, except the highest peaks
of the central highlands, near the watershed, where they go only
occasionally.
Race "vittata"
also populates Flinders Island and Cape Barren Island, to the
North-east of Tasmania, the three small
islands near the
north-western tip of Tasmania (Hunter, Three Hummock, Robbins Island),
and all the small islands
along Tasmania's South-east coast.
Race "kingi"
resides only on King Island.
Dusky Robins live in open
forest,
woodland and
scrub, often near
the edges towards open country.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
B. Hensen reports spotting Dusky Robins, race
"vittata",
on Bruny Island, TAS, in March 2016.
page has kindly been contributed by B. Hensen.
M. Eaton found Dusky Robins, race
"vittata",
at Margate, Kingborough, TAS, in September 2021.
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Photos |
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Race "vittata"
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ADULT |
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PAIR |
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Pair of Dusky Robins
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margate, Kingborough, TAS, September 2021]
Frontal view of a Dusky Robin looking sideways
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margate, Kingborough, TAS, September 2021]
Near-frontal view of a Dusky Robin
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margate, Kingborough, TAS, September 2021]
Near-frontal/ventral view of a Dusky Robin
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margate, Kingborough, TAS, September 2021]
Near-lateral view of a Dusky Robin looking towards the observer
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margate, Kingborough, TAS, September 2021]
Near-lateral/ventral view of a Dusky Robin
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margate, Kingborough, TAS, September 2021]
Lateral view of a Dusky Robin
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margate, Kingborough, TAS, September 2021]
Lateral view of a Dusky Robin
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margate, Kingborough, TAS, September 2021]
Lateral view of a Dusky Robin
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, March 2016]
Near-dorsal view of a Dusky Robin
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, March 2016]
Near-dorsal view of a Dusky Robin
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margate, Kingborough, TAS, September 2021]
Dorsal view of a Dusky Robin
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margate, Kingborough, TAS, September 2021]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
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Lateral view of a juvenile Dusky Robin on the ground
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, March 2016]
Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Dusky Robin
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, March 2016]
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.