The white-breasted robin is a passerine bird in the Australasian robin family Petroicidae. Occasionally it is placed in the yellow robin genus Eopsaltria. It is endemic to southwestern Australia. Unlike many other Australian robins, it lacks bright colours in its plumage, being a predominantly greyish bird with white underparts. Like other closely related Australasian robins, it is a cooperative breeder. It is sedentary, with pairs or small groups maintaining territories.
Region
Southwest Australia
Typical Environment
Occurs in the forests and woodlands of southwestern Australia, especially tall eucalypt forests such as jarrah and karri, as well as riparian thickets, coastal heaths, and dense shrublands. It favors shaded gullies and areas with abundant leaf litter and fallen timber. Territories are maintained year-round by pairs or small family groups. It often keeps close to cover and forages on or near the ground.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 800 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The white-breasted robin is a cooperative breeder, with offspring from previous seasons helping parents defend territory and feed new chicks. It is largely sedentary, keeping to shaded forest understorey and dense thickets. Unlike many Australian robins, it is subdued in colour, relying on stealth rather than display. Its clear, fluty song often reveals its presence before the bird is seen.
Nesting in Western Australia
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Pairs or small family groups hold territories year-round. Cooperative breeding is common, with helpers assisting in nest defense and provisioning. Nests are usually placed low in dense vegetation or forked shrubs.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A clear, fluty series of melodious whistles delivered from low to mid-level perches, often at dawn. Calls include soft ticks and thin contact notes used to keep in touch within dense cover.
Plumage
Smooth, plain grey to slate-grey upperparts with crisp white underparts and throat; subtle contrast without bright markings.
Diet
Primarily feeds on insects and other small arthropods such as spiders, beetles, and caterpillars. Foraging is typically by pouncing from low perches to the ground or gleaning among leaf litter. It may occasionally take small berries or other soft plant matter when invertebrate prey is scarce.
Preferred Environment
Forages along shaded forest floors, among fallen logs, and within dense understorey near gullies and streams. Edge habitats and thickets are also used, especially where leaf litter accumulates.
