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Jacky Winter (Microeca fascinans) Alternate name(s): "Peter-Peter", "Post-boy", "Post-sitter", "Brown Flycatcher", "White-tail", "Stumpbird", "Spinks" Aboriginal name(s): Race "fascinans": "dhunidjuni" [yuwaalaraay] Size: 12-14 cm Body mass: 9-19 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 Jacky Winters are small to medium-sized robins. The sexes are alike. Their front is grey, with some greyish-brown tints on the flanks. The chin patch is near-white. The head and back are all grey-brown. The flight feathers are the darkest shade of grey-brown, with narrow lighter-grey leading edges. The dark grey-brown uppertail has prominent white outer bars that are most conspicuous in flight, while the undertail is all-white. The eyes are surrouded by an inconspicuous dark grey-brown eye stripe; the eyebrow is lighter grey than the rest of the head. The eyes have dark irises. The short, straight bill, which is surrounded by "whiskers", is dark-grey. The legs and feet are also dark-grey. Juveniles have a highly cryptic plumage. The front is light grey-brown, with copious darker brown streaking. Both head and back are dark-brown, with copious grey streaking.

Taxonomy, classification See Jacky Winter at Wikipedia .

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 Jacky Winter is available HERE . There are three races of Jacky Winters, all of which are endemic to the Australian continent. Altogether they populate large parts of the mainland. Nominate race "fascinans" is found anywhere to the East of the geographic longitude of Cape Melville, QLD, except a narrow coastal fringe in northern QLD. They also live in western VIC and the south-eastern tip of SA, up to Adelaide. In far north-western NSW, western QLD and the tropical North of the NT and the Kimberley (to the North of the geographic latitude of Broome, WA) race "pallida" is found. North of Adelaide and on into north-western SA, plus the southern half of WA, except the south-western tip and the Nullarbor, one finds race "assimilis". Jacky Winters are usually found in open woodland, where they are often seen hunting from low perches. They adapt to the presence of humans quite well and are also often seen near human habitation, especially in winter. Then they can be found on paddocks, hunting from fences or fencepost, often nesting on dead branches in farmland with scattered trees. Where to look? How to find this species? Jacky Winters are most easily found in wintertime, when they can often be observed hunting from fencelines around houses and farms. Their calls very early on winter mornings draw attention to their presence. Travelers will often find them perched on roadside fences.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "fascinans" Jacky Winters, race "fascinans", are autumn/winter residents where we lived until 2006, 20 km South of Narrabri, NSW. They were often found perched on fence lines or poles, hunting for insects in the paddocks. By contrast, Jacky Winters, race "fascinans", were not seen regularly where we live, at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri, in 2007-2011, but a pair were permanent residents at another property in Deriah Aboriginal Area, 30 km East of Narrabri, at an altitude of about 600 m. At our place, at Eulah Creek, Jacky Winters, race "fascinans", are usually found only in autumn/winter. In September 2015 a pair decided to nest about 8 m up in an Acacia salicina tree on the property. The same pair nested in the same tree again in August/September 2016. They are seen by us occasionally elsewhere in the Narrabri area, not only in parts of the Great Dividing Range, but also farther inland, in the plains. R. Plumtree reports that Jacky Winters, race "fascinans", are common in the area of Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC. M. Eaton reports finding Jacky Winters, race "fascinans", at Batemans Bay, NSW, in April 2023. M. Eaton also spotted Jacky Winters, race "fascinans", nesting at Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, in September 2017. Race "pallida" Jacky Winters, race "pallida" were spotted by us at Sturt NP, about 20 km North-East of Tibooburra, NSW, in September 2012. M. Mearns reports finding a Jacky Winter, race "pallida" at Camooweal Caves, QLD, in September 2019. M. Eaton reports spotting a Jacky Winter, race "pallida" at Katherine, NT, in July 2020. Another was found at Streeters Jetty, Broome, WA, in June 2026. Race "assimilis" R. Brinsley reports spotting Jacky Winters, race "assimilis", nesting on a private property 85 km West of Wentworth, NSW, in September/October 2011. M. Eaton spotted Jacky Winters, race "assimilis", at Lake Gilles, SA, in June 2023. C. Pears found Jacky Winters, race "assimilis", at Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, in July 2025.

Photos

Race "fascinans"

ADULT

PAIR

Frontal view of a pair of Jacky Winters investigating a potential new territory from a vantage point
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2024]

Near-frontal view of a pair of Jacky Winters on their vantage point (photo of M. Windeyer)
[Gilgandra Flora Reserve, NSW, May 2016]

Pair of Jacky Winters on an old barbed wire fence
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, September 2008]

Pair of Jacky Winters on a twig (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

Sex unknown

Close-up frontal portrait of an adult Jacky Winter
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, May 2022]

Close-up frontal portrait of a Jacky Winter looking sideways
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, May 2022]

Frontal/ventral view of a Jacky Winter (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

Close-up near-frontal view of a Jacky Winter looking straight at the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2012]

Close-up near-frontal view of a Jacky Winter looking towards the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2016]

Near-frontal view of a Jacky Winter on its perch late in the evening
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, April 2006]

This photo shows clearly the white outer tail feathers of a Jacky Winter that are also prominent in flight; this is the feature that distinguishes Jacky Winters from other robins and makes identification in flight easy (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

Lateral view of a Jacky Winter looking towards the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2015]

Lateral view of a Jacky Winter with its feathers ruffled by wind looking towards the observer
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, February 2006]

Close-up lateral view of a Jacky Winter
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2026]

Close-up lateral view of a Jacky Winter
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2016]

Close-up lateral view of a Jacky Winter (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Lateral view of a Jacky Winter
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2015]

Near-dorsal view of a Jacky Winter with drooping wings, showing that it belongs to the family of the robins
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, February 2006]

Near-dorsal view of a Jacky Winter; they can become quite docile: one look over the shoulder was enough for this bird to recognize the photographer - and continue marking its territory
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Jacky Winter - in wintertime they can look a lot bulkier, because they are puffed up to protect themselves against cold weather
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, May 2008]

Distant dorsal view of a Jacky Winter in low flight, exhibiting clearly its white outer tail feathers, which distinguish this species from other robins
[Narran Lake NR, near Walgett, NSW, July 2014]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal/ventral view of an immature Jacky Winter cooling on a 40+ C day
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, February 2006]

Close-up near-lateral view of an immature Jacky Winter
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2012]

Close-up lateral view of an immature Jacky Winter; only the white tips on the wing coverts still indicate juvenile feathers
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2019]

Near-dorsal view of an immature Jacky Winter
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2012]

Dorsal view of an immature Jacky Winter looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2012]

Dorsal view of an immature Jacky Winter looking sideways; only the white tips on the wing coverts still indicate juvenile feathers
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2019]

Near-frontal view of an immature Jacky Winter looking sideways; note the already plain-grey front, but remaining streaks on the cap
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2016]

Close-up lateral view of an immature Jacky Winter
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

Neaar-dorsal view of an immature Jacky Winter looking back at the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

Near-dorsal view of an immature Jacky Winter
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

Close-up full-frontal portrait of a juvenile Jacky Winter
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2026]

Close-up full-frontal view of a juvenile Jacky Winter eye-balling the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2026]

Close-up frontal view of a juvenile Jacky Winter
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2026]

Close-up lateral view of a juvenile Jacky Winter looking at the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2026]

Close-up lateral view of a juvenile Jacky Winter
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2026]

Close-up lateral view of a juvenile Jacky Winter
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2025]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a juvenile Jacky Winter looking at the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2026]

Close-up dorsal view of a juvenile Jacky Winter
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2026]

Close-up near-frontal/ventral view of a juvenile Jacky Winter
[Eulah Creek, October 2015]

Close-up lateral view of a juvenile Jacky Winter
[Eulah Creek, December 2018]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a juvenile Jacky Winter
[Eulah Creek, October 2015]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a juvenile Jacky Winter
[Eulah Creek, October 2015]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Jacky Winter stretching a wing (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[South Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2015]

Two fledgling Jacky Winters, 5 days after leaving their nest; the two little rascals observe every move their parents make...
[Eulah Creek, October 2015]

... when not watching that curious photographer
[Eulah Creek, October 2015]

Time for a feed! Adult Jacky Winter feeding one of its fledglings
[Eulah Creek, October 2015]

Adult Jacky Winter preparing to feed one of its fledglings
[Eulah Creek, October 2015]

Frontal/ventral view of a fledgling Jacky Winter waiting to be fed
[Eulah Creek, October 2015]

Race "pallida"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an adult Jacky Winter looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Streeters Jetty, Broome, WA, June 2026]

Near-frontal view of a Jacky Winter looking at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Streeters Jetty, Broome, WA, June 2026]

Near-lateral view of a Jacky Winter looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Streeters Jetty, Broome, WA, June 2026]

Lateral view of an adult Jacky Winter looking at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Streeters Jetty, Broome, WA, June 2026]

Lateral view of an adult Jacky Winter (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Katherine, NT, July 2020]

Distant lateral view of an adult Jacky Winter (right), together with a dependent juvenile (left)
[Sturt NP, NSW, September 2012]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Distant lateral view of a juvenile Jacky Winter
[Sturt NP, NSW, September 2012]

Race "assimilis"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-lateral view of an adult Jacky Winter (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles, SA, June 2023]

Lateral view of a Jacky Winter on its nest (photo courtesy of R. Brinsley)
[85 km West of Wentworth, NSW, October 2011]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Close-up lateral view of an immature Jacky Winter; note the white tips on the wing coverts (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Gilles, SA, June 2023]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Jan

Eggs: 2

Incubation period: 14-15 days

Fledging age: ca. 15 days

Nest building: Female & male

Incubation: Female

Dependent care: Female & male

The breeding seasons of Jacky Winters depends on geographic latitude and on weather conditions, especially in the semi-arid interior of the continent. Given the right conditions, in particular after good inland rainfall, Jacky Winters can in principle breed at any time of the year.

Jacky Winter suffering the shock of its life when encountering a Lace Monitor in a tree hollow
[Leard State Forest, NSW, April 2013]

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Rootlets, grass stems, bark fibre, webs

Height above ground: 0.5 - 20 m

Jacky Winter nests are always blended into a (near-)horizontal fork, often of a dead branch.

In September 2016 we were able to observe in detail the behaviour of a pair of Jacky Winters during a particularly wet period. While the female continued incubating through rain events, as soon as the chicks had hatched she helped with feeding the chicks. The need for both Jacky Winter parents to feed themselves and two chicks is so urgent that, on a rainy morning when the chicks were about 3 days old, the female still left the nest unattended to go hunting at the break of dawn - and the chicks died within about an hour. Two more feeding attempts were made, one and two hours after daybreak, but when there was no response, the nest was abandoned.

Additional information

There is a separate page describing some more of the behaviour observed at and around the nest.

A new attempt was made by the same pair in a new nest, about 50 m from the old one, in October 2016.

Close look at a Jacky Winter, race "assimilis", on its nest (photo courtesy of R. Brinsley)
[85 km west of Wentworth, NSW, October 2011]

"Multi-tasking" Jacky Winter on its nest: Incubating AND catching dinner at the same time? Not a problem!
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[South Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2017]

Close-up lateral view of a Jacky Winter on its nest in a fork of an Acacia salicina going for a second attempt, after losing a brood to rain a month earlier; this nest was later probably destroyed by a male Rufous Songlark who showed very aggressive behaviour towards the Jacky Winters when establishing its own territory, including a favourite perch near the nest site
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2016]

This third nest, which was constructed under the "umbrella" of a Magpie-lark nest, was later destroyed by a severe hail storm
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2016]

Hungry young Jacky Winter begging for food (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, January 2019]

Near-fledging age Jacky Winter chick stretching a wing (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, January 2019]

Near-fledging age Jacky Winter chick practicing its wing beat (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, January 2019]

Near-fledging age Jacky Winter chick practicing its wing beat (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, January 2019]

Jacky Winter nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Frontal view of a Jacky Winter on its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Lateral view of a Jacky Winter on its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Jacky Winter tending to its young
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2015]

Lateral view of a Jacky Winter nestling in cryptic posture
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Jacky Winter nestling in cryptic posture
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2018]

Jacky Winter chick preening
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2015]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 19 x 14 mm

Colour: Bluish-grey, with light- to mid-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Jacky Winter, race "assimilis", nest, with two eggs in it (photo courtesy of R. Brinsley)
[85 km west of Wentworth, NSW, September 2011]

Jacky Winter nest with two eggs in it
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2016]

Clear view of Jacky Winter eggs from above (photo taken from below with a mirror)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2016]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary/locally migratory

Elementary unit: Pair

Similar to Willie Wagtails, Jacky Winters can be opportunistic hunters. They will accompany us during garden work to pick off insects disturbed by us, sometimes coming close. Jacky Winters are the only Australian songbird known to us that will sing most vigorously in wintertime (hence the name...).

A Jacky Winter was seen by us hustling a Sacred Kingfisher, indicating that they may compete for the same food sources. Similarly, Jacky Winters are protective of their territory against other types of robins, such as e.g. the smaller Red-capped Robin.

The first time we have noticed fledgling Jacky Winters to use the tail flick characteristic of the species was about 7 days after leaving the nest, at about the same time as they started meeting their parents in the air to beg for food.

Near-frontal view of a hovering Jacky Winter
[Near Barraba, NSW, December 2014]

Birds, in particular raptors, that hover above their prey will always do so facing into the wind to get optimal air lift.

Although Jacky Winters usually hunt from low perches such as fence posts, pickets or low branches of trees, they can occasionally be seen using very low perches and even being on the lookout on flat ground
[Pillga NP, NSW, August 2023]

Like other bird species, Jacky Winters defend their nest against intrusions; here a female Rufous Whistler has come too close at a time when the nest was not even finished yet
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2016]

Food, Diet

Like all other robins (all families), Jacky Winters are flycatchers. Most robins hunt for insects from low to mid-level perches. Jacky Winters can often be seen hunting from fence lines.

Close-up frontal view of a Jacky Winter - the bird was seen harvesting whatever was in the nest under its foot
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2025]

Lateral view of a Jacky Winter with its catch, a grasshopper
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2016]

Lateral/ventral view of a Jacky Winter that has caught a juicy caterpillar
[Near Barraba, NSW, December 2014]

Near-lateral view of a Jacky Winter with its catch
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2013]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Jacky Winter regurgitating a pellet
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2012]

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.

jwinter_20151021.mp3	fascinans (NW NSW)	Territorial calls	© MD
jwinter_20210924.m4a	fascinans (NW NSW)	Territorial calls	© MD
jwinter_20180802.m4a	fascinans (NW NSW)	Territorial calls, long sequence	© MD
jwinter_me_20260627.m4a	fascinans (N WA)	Territorial calls	© ME
jwinter_20160111.mp3	fascinans (NW NSW)	Warning call (Australian Koel)	© MD
jwinter_20151015_3.mp3	fascinans (NW NSW)	Annoyed call/warning	© MD
jwinter_20190201.m4a	fascinans (NW NSW)	Young bird practicing	© MD
jwinter_20190201_2.m4a	fascinans (NW NSW)	Young bird practicing	© MD
jwinter_20150913.mp3	fascinans (NW NSW)	Various	© MD
jwinter_20151015.mp3	fascinans (NW NSW)	Begging calls (fledglings)	© MD
jwinter_20140519_1.mp3	fascinans (NW NSW)	?	© MD
jwinter_cp_20250726_2.m4a	assimilis (SW WA)	Territorial call	© CP
jwinter_cp_20250726.m4a	assimilis (SW WA)	Territorial calls (Q&A)	© CP

More Jacky Winter 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.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.