Birds of the World

Petroicidae : Australasian Robins

Eastern Yellow Robin

Eopsaltria australis

Great Otways National Park, Victoria, Australia - September 2010

Many Australian Robins are very tolerant of human presence.  The Eastern Yellow robin exemplifies this and will often approach people and remain near them.  It is possible that they regard us as they would any other large mammal and are approaching in the hope that our movement will disturb insects for it to eat.

Great Otways National Park, Victoria, Australia - September 2010

Unlike the numerous red/pink-breasted Australasian Robin species found in Australia, Yellow Robins are monomorphic and both sexes are identical.

Great Otways National Park, Victoria, Australia - September 2010

A common behaviour Yellow Robins adopt when scanning for food or watching a human, is to cling sideways to the trunk of a tree (see photo above right). 

Great Otways National Park, Victoria, Australia - September 2010

Eastern Yellow Robins are early risers and are usually one of the first birds to begin singing at dawn, often up to half an hour before sunrise.  This habit is reflected in the literal translation of its generic name, Eopsaltria, which means "dawn singer".

Great Otways National Park, Victoria, Australia - September 2010

The Eastern Yellow Robin is common throughout eastern Australia.