How to identify arid and open woodland robins
This ID guide is for Australian robins that live in dryer and arid areas of Australia, and open woodlands. This includes the Hooded Robin, Jacky Winter, Red-capped Robin and Scarlet Robin.
Hooded Robin
Male: Distinctive black hood (head), throat and upperparts with a white underbody, white shoulder bar and white bar on wing. Bold and upright in posture.
Female: Pale grey-brown upper body with white bar on wing and no shoulder bar.
Found in: Open woodland and shrublands across inland Australia - from Queensland’s dry country through NSW, SA and southern WA.
Jacky Winter
Male and female: Both sexes look alike - plain grey-brown above, pale below with a faint brown wash on breast, faint white eyebrow line and white outer edges on the tail.
Found in: Inland and southern Australia, especially in open forests, farmland and grasslands. Often seen in pairs. Flicks its tail while flycatching from fenceposts and low branches.
Red-capped Robin
Male: Black upperparts with a brilliant red cap and breast, white underbody and white bars on wing.
Female: Pale brown with a faint red cap, and pale buff grey breast (that sometimes has a faint red tinge).
Found in: Arid and semi-arid zones across inland Australia - mulga, acacia scrub and dry woodlands.
Scarlet Robin
Male: Jet black head, back and throat with large white spot above bill, red breast that doesn’t go all the way down to its white belly, and white bar on wing.
Female: Soft brown above, large white spot above bill, light orange-red breast and white double bar on wing.
Found in: Southeastern Australia and Tasmania, often in eucalypt woodland, farmland edges and coastal scrub.
Weekend Birder episodes
Learn more about robins in these short podcast episodes:
