19

Grey-headed Robin (Heteromyias cinereifrons) Alternate name(s): "Ashy-fronted Robin", "Black-eared Robin" Aboriginal name(s): "windan"/"yindan" [ngadjon] Size: 16-18 cm Body mass: 28-42 g

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Grey-headed Robins are large robins. The top of the head is grey, while the throat is white. The eyes are surrounded by a wide, near-black eye stripe. The breast is light-grey, the belly and vent off-white and the flanks are creamy to light-brown; the ear coverts are greyish-brown. The back is also greyish-brown, turning more brownish and darker grey towards rump, tail and primaries. The eyes have dark irises. The short, stout bill is dark-grey with a lighter, horn-coloured tip. The legs and feet are the colour of skin.

Taxonomy, classification See Grey-headed Robin at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information Grey-headed Robins have now been given species status and are no longer considered to be a race of the Ashy Robin (Heteromyias albispecularis) found in New Guinea.

Range, habitat, finding this species 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 Grey-headed Robin is available HERE . Grey-headed Robins are endemic to north-eastern Australia. They are found only in the tablelands in the hinterland of Cairns, QLD, up to about 150 km to either the North or the South of Cairns, at altitudes of more than about 300 m. Grey-headed Robins are usually found in rainforest.

Sightings Click here for sighting information B. Hensen reports spotting Grey-headed Robins at Julatten, QLD, in July 2013 and again in November 2018. M. Eaton reports finding Grey-headed Robins at Julatten, QLD, in July 2018, and at Lake Eacham, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, in November 2018. Others were found at Yungaburra, QLD, in August 2023. A. Ross-Taylor spotted a Grey-headed Robin at Daintree NP, QLD, in May 2022. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours reports finding a Grey-headed Robin at Curtin Fig Tree, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, in August 2020. Other were spotted at Malanda Conservation Park, Tablelands, QLD, in October 2022 and again in October 2023.

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Grey-headed Robin (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Malanda, QLD, October 2023]

Frontal view of a Grey-headed Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mt. Hypipamee, QLD, August 2023]

Near-frontal view of a Grey-headed Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Julatten, QLD, July 2018]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Grey-headed Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mt. Hypipamee, QLD, August 2023]

Close-up lateral view of a Grey-headed Robin (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Malanda Conservation Park, Tablelands, QLD, October 2022]

Lateral view of a Grey-headed Robin (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Julatten, QLD, July 2013]

Close-up lateral view of a Grey-headed Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Julatten, QLD, July 2018]

Close-up lateral view of a Grey-headed Robin (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Curtin Fig Tree, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, August 2020]

Lateral view of a Grey-headed Robin hunting from a tree trunk (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Julatten, QLD, July 2013]

Close-up lateral view of a Grey-headed Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mt. Hypipamee, QLD, August 2023]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Grey-headed Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mt. Hypipamee, QLD, August 2023]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey-headed Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Julatten, QLD, July 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey-headed Robin hunting from a tree trunk (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Daintree NP, QLD, May 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey-headed Robin (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Julatten, QLD, July 2013]

Dorsal view of a Grey-headed Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Julatten, QLD, July 2018]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Solitary

Food, Diet

Lateral view of a Grey-headed Robin eyeing its prey (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Eacham, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, November 2018]

Lateral view of a Grey-headed Robin with its prey, a beetle (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Eacham, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, November 2018]

Frontal view of a Grey-headed Robin with its prey, a beetle (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Eacham, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, November 2018]

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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