Inconclusive sighting

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Identification history

Comments from moderator

Juvenile robins are very difficult to ID, so it is hard to say with certainty what species this is. For this reason it is best left as Petroica sp.
Insufficient or inconclusive evidence 25 Apr 2021 Liam.m
Petroica rosea 21 Mar 2021 JonSteinbeck
Petroica rosea 21 Mar 2021 natureguy
Petroica rodinogaster 17 Mar 2021 JonSteinbeck

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User's notes

I could hear birds but I could not see them until I spotted some movement in a tree at eye level. It turned out to be what I think is a juvenile Rose Robin. It was staying still but it was well inside the crown of a tree.

7 comments

Liam.m wrote:
   24 Apr 2021
I think it looks more like a young flame than a young rose
natureguy wrote:
   25 Apr 2021
Thanks Liam, I felt like the buffiness on the wings and somewhat drooped wings were more indicative of Rose, also doesn't seem to have the upright posture of Flame. From what I can see it also doesn't have a white outermost tail feather which is stated as the main distinguishing feature of Flame Robins by BirdLife Australia (website). But could be Flame. Maybe see what others say. Have left unconfirmed until we reach a conclusion.
Liam.m wrote:
   25 Apr 2021
Don’t most young robins have a very buff wing bar?
natureguy wrote:
   25 Apr 2021
Hi Birds In Canberra, there have been many suggestions for ID including Pink (your initial suggestion), Rose, Flame and Scarlet. Juvenile Robins are quite challenging to separate and therefore it is probably not really possible to say with certainty which species it is. If you happen to have any more photos and could add them to the sighting that might be useful to provide a different angled view, otherwise it is probably best left ID'ed as Petroica sp.
Liam.m wrote:
   25 Apr 2021
Also one other thing, Birds in Canberra, u said that u heard the birds calling before you saw them, are u able to identify by call. If not I agree with Luke, best left as Petroica sp.
natureguy wrote:
   25 Apr 2021
Thanks Liam.
JonSteinbeck wrote:
   27 Apr 2021
Hi Natureguy, I really appreciate the effort that you and the other people have gone to in order to identify this sighting. Sorry, I only really got this shot and I used a flash that scared the bird off. Again, many thanks for your efforts and the explanation as to why it is inconclusive. I completely understand. All the best.

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