Indian Robin Female

Indian Robin is widespread resident of Indian subcontinent, and ranges across Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. This bird is found in open stony, grassy and scrub forest habitats. They are mainly found in dry habitats and are mostly absent from thick forests and high rainfall areas. They feed mostly on insects but are known to feed on frogs and lizards too especially when feeding young at the nest. Individuals may forage late in the evening to capture insects attracted to lights. Human activities such as felling and firewood removal in forests appear to benefit them. All populations are resident and non-migratory. The species is often found close to human habitation and will frequently perch on rooftops of the buildings of the campus and colonial residence.

Indian Robin (Linnaeus) is sexually dimorphic in plumage with the male being mainly black with a white shoulder patch or stripe whose visible extent can vary with posture. The northern populations have the upper plumage brownish while the southern populations are black above. The males have chestnut under tail coverts and these are visible as the bird usually holds the 6-8 cm long tail raised upright. The females are brownish above, have no white shoulder stripe and are greyish below with the vent a paler shade of chestnut than the males.

Nests are built between rocks, in wall crevices or in a tree hollow. Nests are lined with animal hair and it has been noted that many nests have pieces of snake sloughs.

The breeding season of Indian Robin is December to September but varies according to region and usually begins with the first rains. Peak breeding in northern India is in June and is earlier in Southern India.