Red-capped Robins breeding but...

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Interesting. Re the question: which leads to the question why do the older males move on leaving the territory available for young ones? May be or may be not moving on, perhaps the colourful birds are more prone to predation.

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Milburn [
Sent: Friday, 11 November 2011 10:04 AM
To: wallaces
Cc:
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Red-capped Robins breeding but...

> Steve
>  
> you posed the
>   question
>
> "Do male Red-capped
>   Robins breed in what the guides describe as immature
> plumage?"

Yes , they most definitely do.  I have only observed this in the ACT though.  During the drought years 2006 to 2009 the numbers of breeding Scarlet Robins decreased markedly and breeding Red-capped Robins increased.

Males in their second year look more or less like older females and I found several breeding  pairs of Red-capped that could have been described as a female breeding with a younger female (i.e. a bird with no red on the forehead).

The locations include Woodstock Reserve, which leads to the question why do the older males move on leaving the territory available for young ones?  This has also happened at Mulligan's Flat where all the red birds have disappeared.

Scarlet Robin numbers have recovered at Mulligan's Flat and they are aggressive toward Red-capped Robins so perhaps that is part of the reason.

> regards

Milburn

>

--

Dr P.J Milburn
Technology Specialist
Australian Cancer Research Foundation Biomolecular Resource Facility
John Curtin School of Medical Research
Australian National University
GPO Box 334
Canberra ACT 0200
'Phone +61 2 6125 4326
FAX      +61 2 6125 9533