Hooded Robin

The Hooded Robin (cucullata cucullata) is a large Australian robin reaching 17 cm in length. The male is strikingly marked in black and white, with a bold black hood extending down a white breast. The back is black with distinct white shoulder and wing-bar. The tail is black, with prominent white side-panels. Females and immatures are duller, with light brownish-grey upperparts, but the same striking black and white wings. Flight is short and swiftly undulating. The call is a series of descending, fading, mellow notes.

Distribution

The Hooded Robin is common in few places, and rarely found on the coast. It is considered a sedentary species, but local seasonal movements are possible. The south-eastern form is found from Brisbane to Adelaide throughout much of inland NSW, with the exception of the north-west. The species is widespread, found across Australia, except for the driest deserts and the wetter coastal areas - northern and eastern coastal Queensland and Tasmania. 

Habitat and ecology

• Prefers lightly wooded country, usually open eucalypt woodland, acacia scrub and mallee, often in or near clearings or open areas.
• Requires structurally diverse habitats featuring mature eucalypts, saplings, some small shrubs and a ground layer of moderately tall native grasses.
• Often perches on low dead stumps and fallen timber or on low-hanging branches, using a perch-and-pounce method of hunting insect prey.
• Territories range from around 10 ha during the breeding season, to 30 ha in the non-breeding season.
• May breed any time between July and November, often rearing several broods.
• The nest is a small, neat cup of bark and grasses bound with webs, in a tree fork or crevice, from less than 1 m to 5 m above the ground.
• The nest is defended by both sexes with displays of injury-feigning, tumbling across the ground.
• A clutch of two to three is laid and incubated for fourteen days by the female. Two females often cooperate in brooding.