- Epthianura tricolor
Identification
11–13 cm (4¼-5 in)
Red upper-tail coverts
Male
- Brown upperparts
- Red crown
- Red below
- Black eye mask
- White throat
- Long thin legs
- Down-curved bill
Female and Juvenile
- Similar to male, but markings are paler
Distribution
Endemic to Australia.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Found mainly in the central deserts and grasslands, dry bushland, spinifex and mulga scrub and coastal shrubland.
Behaviour
Highly irruptive and nomadic.
Diet
The diet includes beetles, spiders, bugs and ants, as well as seeds and nectar.
Breeding
The cup shaped nest is built by both adults from grass, hair, twigs and feathers. The clutch consists of 2-5 pink and white eggs which have brownish-red spots. They are incubated by both parents for 14 days. The young fledge 14 days later.
Vocalisation
Calls: dik it - dik; high pitched whistled see.
The alarm is check-check.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved June 2016)
- Wikipedia
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) Crimson Chat. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 April 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Crimson_Chat
