Red-capped Robin

["Mark Clayton" <>]

Margaret,

 

Red-capped Robins are somewhat of a nomad. They can be absent from an area for quite a while then turn up in numbers and stay around for a long time. They are not what you would call migrants. The bird in the photo is an adult male in moult. Once the red, black and white adult male plumage is attained they keep it for the rest of their lives. As you say a lot of (post breeding) adult birds are moulting at this time of year. Juveniles usually moult a little bit later than adults.

 

Mark

From: Margaret Leggoe [
Sent: Wednesday, 20 February 2013 5:37 PM
To: 'Williams, Roger'; 'canberrabirds'
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Red-capped Robin

 

Very interesting, Roger

Is this an early return of did it forget to go at the end of last winter?  The feathers look a bit scruffy.  Quite a few birds seem to be moulting now, or is this one a juvenile just acquiring its red cap?

Margaret.

 

 

From: Williams, Roger [m("grapevine.com.au","rogerwilliams");">]
Sent: Wednesday, 20 February 2013 4:02 PM
To: canberrabirds
Subject: [canberrabirds] Red-capped Robin

 

           A Male Red-capped Robin,at Shepherds Lookout this afternoon,made for a nice surprise.

                          Roger Williams