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Flame Robin (Petroica phoenicea)

The Flame Robin is a small insectivorous robin of south-eastern Australia. It breeds mainly in upland eucalypt forest and woodland with open ground, then moves to lower, drier forests, woodlands, grasslands and pastures in winter. Clearing, fragmentation, removal of dead timber and coarse woody debris, grazing, dense post-fire regeneration and disturbance to breeding or wintering habitat are relevant risks on development sites.

Conservation status

New South Wales, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Vulnerable.

South Australia, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972: Vulnerable.

Breeding season

Timing varies across the species' broad range. The pattern below represents the documented seasonal cycle for south-eastern Australia, with breeding in uplands and movement to lower areas in winter.

Seasonal timing is broad because the supplied documents describe seasons rather than exact monthly dates. Confirm current occupancy, nesting activity and seasonal habitat use before clearing.

  • Breeding: Breeding occurs from spring to late summer. September to December represents the spring and early summer part of this period; the supplied documents do not identify peak breeding months.
  • Breeding and dependent young: Late summer breeding may extend into January and February, while dependent young may remain associated with nest sites during the broader spring to late summer period. Exact fledging and dependency dates are not reported.
  • Movement to wintering habitat: Many birds move during winter from upland breeding areas to warmer lowland habitats, including inland slopes, plains and some coastal sites. Many Tasmanian birds cross Bass Strait to mainland wintering areas.
  • Winter presence in lowlands: Winter use of dry forests, open woodlands, pasture, native grasslands, orchards, remnant vegetation and some coastal heathland is documented. June to August is used here as the typical winter period.
  • Highest clearing risk: Clearing is most likely to harm the species during the spring to late summer breeding period, when nests and dependent young may be present. Winter clearing can also affect birds using lowland habitat, but the supplied documents do not provide a separate quantified risk period.

Identification

The Flame Robin is a small, compact robin that is often detected from a low perch before it drops or sallies to the ground. Plumage differs strongly between adult males, females and immature birds.

Adult males have a dark grey head and upperparts, a small white forehead patch, white wing stripes and white tail edges. The throat, breast and upper belly are bright orange-red, with a white lower belly.

Females are brown, darker above, with a whitish throat and lower belly. Their forehead mark is less conspicuous, and the wings and tail have white and buff markings. Immature males resemble females.

Size: Up to 14 cm long.

Identification: Similar species and field signs

The Flame Robin may occur with the Scarlet Robin during the breeding season. The two species use similar open ground layers and sparse shrub and sapling layers, but the Flame Robin occupies more mesic habitat at the documented sympatric site. The supplied documents do not provide a full plumage comparison with the Scarlet Robin or other Petroica species, so identification should rely on the combination of colour, habitat, call and behaviour.

Its main call is a thin, pretty, descending piping song. Birds commonly use low perches and prominent posts, thistles, logs and other structures before dropping to the ground or taking flying insects close to the ground.

Identification: Nests and detection

The nest is an open cup made from plant material and spider webs. Nests are often close to the ground in shallow cavities in trees, stumps or banks. Eggs are pale bluish or greenish white, with brownish blotches.

No species-specific tracks, scats, sloughs or eyeshine features are described in the supplied documents. During clearing inspections, search low cavities, stumps, banks, logs and dense ground or shrub cover, and listen for the descending piping song.

Distribution: National range

The Flame Robin is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It breeds in upland areas and moves to lower inland and coastal areas during winter, with many Tasmanian birds crossing Bass Strait to mainland wintering areas.

The range extends from near the Queensland border through south-eastern New South Wales and Victoria to south-eastern South Australia, and includes Tasmania and Bass Strait islands. The species historically bred in South Australia as far as Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island, but breeding there is now very rare.

In New South Wales, the species breeds in upland areas and winters on the inland slopes and plains. The NSW distribution includes the New England Tablelands, South Eastern Highlands, South Eastern Queensland, NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin, NSW South Western Slopes, Riverina, Darling Riverine Plains, Cobar Peneplain, Nandewar and Australian Alps bioregions, with known or predicted records also mapped in coastal and adjoining areas.

Distribution: Strongholds and subpopulations

The NSW profile indicates two likely separate NSW populations: one in the Northern Tablelands and another extending from the Central to Southern Tablelands. Known NSW subregions include the New England Tablelands, South Eastern Highlands, Australian Alps, NSW South Western Slopes and Riverina.

Outside NSW, the species breeds along the Great Dividing Range from central Victoria to south-east Queensland, as well as in Tasmania and on Bass Strait islands. Wintering birds use inland slopes, plains and some coastal sites.

Distribution: Population and trend

Estimated mature population: Best estimate 8,700,000 mature individuals.

Estimated range: 1,200,000 to 9,600,000 mature individuals.

Estimated area basis: Best estimate based on an estimated area of occupancy of 187,000 km²; the minimum and maximum areas considered were 25,300 km² and 207,000 km².

Recent trend: The population was estimated to have declined by about 7% as a result of the 2019 to 2020 fires, with fire-related estimates ranging from 5% to 9%. Mainland reporting rates showed no trend from 2009 to 2019, while some Tasmanian areas recorded declines.

Habitat: Breeding habitat

Habitat use changes between breeding and non-breeding seasons. The species needs open areas within or near native vegetation, rather than dense understorey alone.

Breeding habitat consists mainly of upland tall, moist eucalypt forests and woodlands, often on ridges and slopes. The species also uses subalpine woodland, recently burnt forest, recently logged forest and pine plantations where open areas are available.

The ground layer is commonly dominated by native grasses. The shrub layer may be sparse or dense, but Flame Robins generally select clearings, grassy mountain tops or areas with an open understorey. They also occur occasionally in temperate rainforest, high-altitude herbfields, heathlands, shrublands and sedgelands.

Habitat: Winter habitat

In winter, birds move to drier and more open habitat below the ranges, including dry forest, open woodland, pasture and native grassland with or without scattered trees. They may also use coastal heathland and other shrublands, orchards and remnant vegetation for shelter and roosting.

Recently burnt areas may be attractive while they remain open. Habitat can become unsuitable as regeneration becomes dense and the vegetation closes over.

Habitat: Structure to retain

Retain open grassy ground, scattered trees, low perches, sparse or patchy shrub cover, standing dead timber, logs, fallen branches, coarse woody debris and leaf litter. These features provide perches, foraging surfaces, nest sites and cover.

The species is associated with larger, connected remnants. The NSW profile identifies isolation as a concern, particularly where remnants are smaller than 10 ha or are surrounded by cropping or stock grazing.

Remnant size noted in the source: Isolation is particularly identified as a concern for remnants smaller than 10 ha.

Foraging habitat: Diet and foraging method

Flame Robins feed mainly from low perches and open ground. They use a range of native and modified habitats when suitable ground structure and prey are available.

The diet consists of small invertebrates. Birds sally or pounce from low perches to take prey from the ground, tree trunks, logs and other coarse woody debris.

Flying insects are often taken in the air. Birds also glean invertebrates from foliage and bark. In summer and autumn, Flame Robins hawk for flying insects close to the ground; in cooler months, both Flame and Scarlet Robins forage mostly on the ground at the documented sympatric site.

Foraging habitat: Foraging habitat

Important foraging areas include open ground layers of grass or bark, clearings, grassy mountain tops, recently burnt areas, open woodland, pasture and native grassland. Birds often use fence posts, thistles and other prominent perches in open winter habitat.

Standing dead timber, logs, fallen branches and coarse woody debris provide both prey substrates and perches. Removing these features can reduce the available foraging sites even where trees and shrubs are retained.

Foraging habitat: Foraging range

The supplied documents do not provide a quantified home range or daily foraging distance. Birds may occur singly, in pairs or in flocks of up to 40 or more, and may join mixed feeding flocks with other insectivorous birds outside the breeding season.

Recorded group size: Up to 40 birds or more.

Breeding habitat: Breeding biology

Flame Robins breed from spring to late summer in upland or high-altitude habitat with open ground and suitable low nest sites. Retaining cavities, banks, stumps and nearby foraging areas is important during clearing and construction.

Breeding season: Spring to late summer.

Eggs per clutch: Three or four.

Nest type: Open cup made from plant material and spider webs.

Nest placement: Often near the ground, in shallow cavities in trees, stumps or banks.

Incubation period: Not reported in the supplied documents.

Age at maturity: Not reported in the supplied documents.

Lifespan: Not reported in the supplied documents.

Breeding habitat: Breeding-site features

Breeding sites are generally in tall, moist upland eucalypt forest or woodland on ridges and slopes, with clearings or an open understorey. Native grass ground cover and access to open feeding areas are important.

During pre-clearing surveys, inspect low cavities, stumps, banks and sheltered sites near open ground. Avoid removing standing dead timber, hollow-bearing material and coarse woody debris unless their ecological value has been assessed.

Sheltering habitat: Nest and shelter sites

The supplied documents describe low nest sites, remnant vegetation and orchards used for roosting, but do not provide measurements for shelter sites or a quantified roost range.

Nests are often close to the ground in shallow cavities in trees, stumps or banks. These features can be overlooked during clearing because they are below the main canopy.

In winter, birds shelter and roost in orchards and remnant vegetation, including dry forest and open woodland. They may also use pasture and grassland with scattered trees when suitable perches and cover are present.

Sheltering habitat: Features to retain

Retain standing dead timber, logs, fallen branches, coarse woody debris, leaf litter, scattered trees and connected remnant vegetation. These features provide cover, nest opportunities, perches and access to invertebrate prey.

The documents do not give a minimum cavity, stump, bank, tree or roost size. Inspect all low cavities and sheltered ground-level structures within proposed clearing areas.

Threats: Clearing and fragmentation

The main documented risks are habitat loss and degradation across both breeding and wintering areas. Project impacts can arise from direct clearing, removal of habitat structure, grazing pressure, fragmentation and unsuitable regeneration after fire.

Clearing and degradation of breeding and wintering habitat can remove nest sites, food sources and open foraging areas. Reduction in the size of remnant patches and isolation of habitat are identified threats.

Isolation is of particular concern where remnants are smaller than 10 ha, where clearing has been heavy, or where remnants are surrounded by cropping or stock grazing.

Patch size identified in the source: Remnants smaller than 10 ha are specifically identified as being at greater risk from isolation.

Threats: Loss of habitat structure

Removing standing dead timber, logs, fallen branches, coarse woody debris and leaf litter reduces foraging and shelter resources. This can occur through grazing, firewood collection, removal of rough pasture and site tidying.

Overgrazing, replacement of native ground cover by exotic grasses, and reductions in canopy, shrub and ground cover can reduce habitat quality.

Threats: Fire and regeneration

Flame Robins often use recently burnt areas, and abundance can be positively associated with the proportion of an area burnt while the habitat remains open. They may leave as vegetation recovers and becomes dense.

The 2019 to 2020 fires were estimated to have caused a short-term population reduction of about 7%, with estimated fire-related mortality ranging from 5% to 9%. Fire can therefore have both short-term impacts and later habitat benefits, depending on severity and subsequent regeneration.

Threats: Predators and competition

Predation by over-abundant Pied Currawongs is identified as a potentially severe pressure on breeding success, particularly where exotic berry-producing shrubs support high currawong numbers. Other native and exotic predators may also affect breeding success.

Over-abundant Noisy Miners may competitively exclude Flame Robins from suitable habitat. The NSW profile recommends avoiding exotic berry-producing shrubs adjacent to Flame Robin habitat.

Threats: Other project pressures

The supplied documents do not identify disease, hydrology change or road mortality as specific Flame Robin threats. They do identify clearing, grazing, fragmentation, fire-related habitat change and loss of habitat structure as the main documented pressures relevant to project planning.

Survey methodology: 1. Diurnal habitat and bird searches

Survey design should reflect the Flame Robin’s seasonal movement between upland breeding habitat and lower, more open winter habitat. The supplied sources do not provide a prescribed survey guideline or quantified project effort, so the ecologist should set effort from the disturbance footprint, habitat quality, season and likely detectability.

Search retained and proposed clearing areas during daylight, with particular attention to open areas within or beside eucalypt forests and woodlands, grassy ridges and slopes, recently burnt areas, pastures, native grasslands and woodland remnants.

Record individual birds, pairs, flocks, flight paths, feeding locations, perches and evidence of breeding.

Flame Robins may occur singly, in pairs or in flocks of 40 birds or more, and may join mixed feeding flocks with other insectivorous birds outside the breeding season.

Use repeated visits where practicable because birds breed in upland areas in spring to late summer and many move to lowland slopes, plains and valleys in winter.

Breeding period: Spring to late summer

Typical body length: Up to 14 cm

Reported flock size: Up to 40 birds or more

  • Walk all suitable habitat within the disturbance footprint and inspect adjoining retained habitat that may receive displaced birds.
  • Search low perches, fence posts, thistles, logs, fallen branches, coarse woody debris and open ground where birds forage for invertebrates.
  • Record the date, start and finish time, observers, weather, search route, search area, habitat condition and every detection location.
  • Map areas of open understorey, sparse shrub cover, native grass cover, standing dead timber, logs and other coarse woody debris.

Survey methodology: 2. Dawn and dusk observation

Use quiet observation during the morning and late afternoon when birds are likely to move between roosting, feeding and breeding areas.

The sources do not specify a required number of observation hours, transect length or repeat visits, so document the project-specific effort and explain why it is suitable for the site.

  • Position observers near open ground, woodland edges, grassy clearings and prominent perches without entering likely nest sites unnecessarily.
  • Allow time for birds to be detected by their thin, piping, descending song and by short flights from low perches.
  • Avoid relying on a single visit where habitat is suitable, the work is staged, or the survey occurs outside the season when birds are expected to use that habitat.

Survey methodology: 3. Targeted breeding habitat inspection

During spring to late summer, inspect suitable upland tall, moist eucalypt forest and woodland, especially ridges and slopes with clearings, open understoreys and native grass cover.

Nests may be close to the ground in shallow cavities in trees, stumps or banks, and are open cups made from plant material and spider webs.

Clutch size: Three or four eggs

Nest location: Often near the ground, in shallow cavities in trees, stumps or banks

  • Use an ecologist to inspect likely nest habitat before clearing, road formation, trenching, slashing or vegetation removal.
  • Search shallow cavities, stumps, banks and sheltered sites without damaging vegetation or disturbing a nest.
  • Treat a nest, dependent young, territorial behaviour or repeated adult activity at one location as a potential breeding record and obtain project advice before disturbance.
  • Do not use spotlighting or handling as a substitute for a breeding habitat inspection.

Survey methodology: Minimum effort and reporting

  • Prepare a written survey plan that states the search area, dates, season, time of day, weather, observers, methods, duration and any limitations, because the supplied documents do not prescribe a standard effort for project surveys.
  • Repeat searches when the first visit is affected by poor visibility, strong wind, heavy rain, dense regeneration or other conditions that reduce detection.
  • Submit confirmed records and associated location, date, observer, method and breeding evidence to the relevant state wildlife database, and follow any project approval or survey data requirements.
  • Report the species as Petroica phoenicea, Flame Robin, and distinguish it from the Scarlet Robin during identification and data entry.

Before habitat disturbance: Avoid and minimise habitat loss

Avoid clearing suitable habitat first, then reduce the remaining risk through site planning and staged works. The Flame Robin uses different habitat types through the year, so the same area may be breeding habitat in one season and movement or feeding habitat in another.

Retain upland tall, moist eucalypt forest and woodland with open understoreys, native grasses and clearings for breeding habitat.

Retain dry forest, open woodland, pasture, native grassland and woodland remnants used during winter.

Retain standing dead timber, logs, fallen branches, leaf litter and coarse woody debris because these provide foraging sites and support the open structure used by the species.

Small isolated remnants identified as a concern: Patches smaller than 10 ha, particularly where clearing is heavy or remnants are surrounded by cropping or stock grazing

  • Redesign the disturbance footprint to avoid intact forest, woodland remnants, open grassy areas and known feeding or breeding locations.
  • Keep retained habitat connected where practicable, particularly where clearing has already reduced remnants or left patches surrounded by cropping or stock grazing.
  • Avoid reducing the size of remnant patches and avoid creating narrow isolated remnants.
  • Keep machinery, stock and material storage out of retained habitat and out of areas with logs, dead timber and native ground cover.

Before habitat disturbance: Approvals and timing

The Flame Robin is not listed under the EPBC Act in the supplied sources, and is listed as Vulnerable in New South Wales and South Australia.

Confirm the current state listing, permit requirements and any local planning controls before works begin, because state requirements vary across Australia.

Commonwealth status: Not listed

New South Wales status: Vulnerable

South Australia status: Vulnerable

  • Obtain the relevant state or territory approvals for clearing, disturbance, fauna handling and relocation before starting work.
  • Seek an EPBC Act referral decision where another nationally listed species, ecological community or impact pathway is present, even though the Flame Robin itself is not nationally listed in the supplied records.
  • Schedule clearing outside spring to late summer where practicable, particularly in upland breeding habitat.
  • If work must occur during the breeding period, complete a targeted pre-clearance inspection and use a species-specific fauna management plan.

Before habitat disturbance: Site preparation

  • Complete a pre-clearance survey shortly before works and update the map of birds, nests, feeding areas, perches, logs, standing dead timber and other habitat features.
  • Mark retained habitat, exclusion areas, access tracks, stockpiles and no-go zones on plans and on the ground.
  • Install exclusion fencing where it will protect retained woodland, native grass cover, logs, dead timber or known breeding locations from machinery and traffic.
  • Brief all workers on the Flame Robin’s appearance, habitat, seasonal use, stop-work procedure and the requirement to contact the fauna spotter catcher before moving habitat features.

During habitat disturbance: Daily clearing controls

Use a fauna spotter catcher to control the sequence of clearing and to keep machinery away from retained habitat. The animal’s small size, ground foraging and near-ground nesting mean that slow, visible and staged clearing is needed.

The fauna spotter catcher should inspect the work area before each daily shift and after any overnight change that could affect fauna or habitat.

Clear in stages from the disturbed edge towards retained habitat, allowing mobile birds to move away from machinery and giving the spotter catcher a clear view of the active work area.

  • Keep the spotter catcher within clear communication range of the operator and stop the machine whenever the spotter identifies a bird, nest or habitat feature requiring inspection.
  • Use low-speed, controlled clearing and avoid simultaneous clearing fronts that prevent the spotter catcher from checking escape routes.
  • Keep spoil, vehicles, lighting and worker activity away from retained open woodland, grassland and woodland edges.
  • Do not remove logs, standing dead timber, stumps, fallen branches or coarse woody debris until the spotter catcher has inspected them and the approved fauna procedure has been applied.

During habitat disturbance: Fauna encounters and handling

If a Flame Robin is found, stop the immediate activity, keep people and machinery back, and allow the bird to leave naturally where it has a safe route into retained habitat.

Only an appropriately authorised fauna handler should capture, handle or relocate a bird, and handling should be limited to what is required for safety, assessment and lawful relocation.

  • Do not chase a healthy bird through dense vegetation or use unapproved nets, chemicals or deterrents.
  • Relocate a bird only where required by the approved fauna management plan and only to nearby retained habitat that provides open ground, low perches, cover and access to invertebrate foraging sites.
  • Place an injured or distressed bird in a secure, quiet container and transfer it promptly to a veterinarian or licensed wildlife carer through the project’s approved wildlife response pathway.
  • Record the location, time, condition, action taken, handler, release or treatment location and outcome for every encounter.

During habitat disturbance: Stop-work triggers

  • Stop work if a nest, eggs, dependent young or repeated adult activity indicates breeding at the work location.
  • Stop work if the fauna spotter catcher cannot maintain visual coverage of the active clearing area or if exclusion fencing has failed.
  • Stop work if a bird is injured, trapped, unable to leave safely, or repeatedly returns to the active work area.
  • Stop work if clearing would damage a mapped retained habitat feature, a connectivity link, or a log, stump, bank or standing dead tree identified for retention.
  • Resume only after the ecologist, fauna spotter catcher and relevant approval holder have applied the approved response and documented the decision.

After habitat disturbance: Post-clearance checks

Post-clearing work should confirm that no fauna has been trapped and that retained habitat remains usable. Monitoring should focus on whether open feeding areas, native ground cover and retained structural features are being maintained.

  • Inspect the cleared area, retained edge, access routes, trenches, stockpiles and machinery exclusion areas for trapped, injured or displaced birds before demobilisation.
  • Check shallow cavities, stumps and banks in retained breeding habitat where works occurred during spring to late summer.
  • Remove temporary hazards, close or cover trenches when unattended, and keep fauna exclusion fencing maintained until the site no longer presents a fauna risk.
  • Confirm that logs, fallen branches, leaf litter, standing dead timber and native ground cover required by the management plan remain in place.

After habitat disturbance: Monitoring and reporting

  • Repeat diurnal searches in retained habitat during the next suitable breeding or winter use period identified by the project ecologist.
  • Record presence, pairs, flocks, feeding activity, use of low perches, breeding behaviour and any change in habitat condition.
  • Report all fauna incidents, nest records, relocations, injuries, mortalities, stop-work events and corrective actions to the project environmental officer and approval authorities where required.
  • Submit verified species records to the relevant state wildlife database with the survey method and effort.

After habitat disturbance: Residual impacts

  • Reassess the residual loss of breeding, wintering and foraging habitat after final design and clearing limits are confirmed.
  • Apply any offset, restoration or other approval measure required by the relevant jurisdiction or project approval.
  • Do not treat a post-clearing sighting as evidence that habitat loss has been avoided, because the species can move between upland breeding areas and lower open habitats.

Rehabilitation actions: Recreate habitat structure

Rehabilitation should recreate open, native vegetation with access to low perches and invertebrate-rich ground foraging areas. Dense regeneration can make habitat unsuitable after fire or other disturbance, so structure and ongoing management matter as much as planting.

Replant or regenerate locally appropriate native eucalypt forest and woodland, with native grasses and a mixture of open areas and shelter.

Maintain an open understorey and avoid creating dense shrub cover across all of the rehabilitated area.

Restore links between retained remnants and establish uncultivated native pasture or woodland buffers where this is consistent with the approved rehabilitation design.

  • Use local native species selected for the relevant ecological community and site conditions, because the supplied sources do not nominate a planting list for this species.
  • Retain or reinstate logs, fallen branches, coarse woody debris, leaf litter and standing dead timber where safe and permitted.
  • Retain suitable low perches, fence posts and open ground for sallying, pouncing and hawking foraging behaviour.
  • Protect new plantings from intense or prolonged grazing until native ground cover is established.

Rehabilitation actions: Manage grazing, weeds, predators and fire

  • Reduce the intensity and duration of grazing and fence remnants where long-term intense grazing is reducing native ground cover.
  • Control exotic grasses and other weeds where they replace native ground cover or reduce habitat structure.
  • Do not plant exotic berry-producing shrubs next to Flame Robin habitat, because they can support high Pied Currawong numbers and increase predation pressure.
  • Plan fire and post-fire regeneration so that some open feeding habitat remains available while retaining unburnt shelter and avoiding uniform dense regrowth.
  • Do not assume that recently burnt habitat remains suitable indefinitely, because the species may leave as vegetation closes after regeneration.

Rehabilitation actions: Success measures and monitoring

  • Measure survival and cover of locally appropriate native vegetation, native grass cover, shrub density, canopy development, retained logs and standing dead timber against the approved rehabilitation targets.
  • Inspect for weed invasion, grazing damage, dense regeneration, loss of open ground and isolation from retained habitat.
  • Use repeat bird searches in breeding and winter use periods to record Flame Robin presence, feeding activity, pairs, flocks and breeding behaviour.
  • Review rehabilitation methods if the site loses open ground, native ground cover, low perches or access to logs and coarse woody debris.

Sources