• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species has a very large range and population size, and despite some localised declines in the last ten years, there has been no rapid species-wide population reduction. It is therefore listed as Least Concern.

Population justification
The density of P. phoenicea has been estimated at 0.5 mature individuals/ha (Higgins & Peter 2002). Newman et al. (2020) applied this density to a set of predicted AOO values based on a tight polygon encompassing all records since 1990 (alpha hull) in which at least some birds are thought to have survived the 2019–2020 fires. The minimum is based on the 2x2 km squares encompassing those records (25,300 km²); the maximum is an alpha hull encompassing all records regardless of whether they burnt (207,000 km²). Newman et al. (2020) considered the best estimate to be 187,000 km², resulting in an estimated population size of 8,700,000 mature individuals (range: 1,200,000-9,600,000).

Trend justification

The population is thought to have declined by 7% as a result of the 2019–2020 fires based on assumptions about mortality in different fire severity classes (severity low: mortality of 10% assumed; medium: 30%; high: 80%; very high: 100%) with estimates ranging from 5%–9% depending on the fire-related mortality assumptions adopted (Newman et al. 2020). However, these fires may ultimately benefit the species (Loyn 1980, 1985; Lindenmayer et al. 2014). Reporting rates from Birdata (BirdLife Australia 2020), analysed for both annual and breeding seasons (August–January) for the mainland, showed zero trends over the last decade (2009–2019) for 2-ha 20-min surveys and 500-m radius area searches, although reporting rates in all surveys were low. In Tasmania, there was evidence of a 49% decline for the period 2014–2019 in the Hobart and Mt Wellington Range, but the paucity of data did not permit extrapolation (Newman et al. 2020). At Pyengana (north-eastern Tasmania) and in northern Tasmania, there were decadal declines of 60% (500-m area search) and 61% (5-km area search), respectively (Newman et al. 2020). However, the statewide trend, which contains uncorrected bias, indicates a relatively stable population (Newman et al. 2017). A separate analysis of 72 sites in Tasmanian Midlands found no significant difference between 1996–1998 and 2016 (Bain et al. 2020), but there was no monitoring in the intervening period. Despite recent fire-related mortality and evidence for declines in some parts of Tasmania, which holds a small proportion of the total population, the earlier concern of a decline of 20%–29% in three generations (Garnett et al. 2011) has not eventuated across the range of the species. The species is therefore suspected to be declining, but not at a rate that meets or approaches listing as threatened.

Flame Robins breed in temperate south-eastern Australia from central Victoria along the Great Dividing Range to south-east Queensland, including Tasmania and Bass Strait Islands. In winter, they migrate to warmer lowland areas including the inland slopes of Great Dividing Range and many coastal sites. Migration details are poorly understood, but many Tasmanian birds cross Bass Strait to winter on the mainland (Higgins and Peter 2002). Historically, they bred in South Australia and reached Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island, but now do so very rarely (Paton et al. 1994).

The species breeds in eucalypt forests and woodlands, with access to open areas, such as subalpine woodland, recently burnt forest, recently logged forest and pine plantations. In winter the species feeds in open areas such as pasture, and shelters and roosts in orchards and remnant vegetation.

While fires in 2019–2020 probably killed some birds, Flame Robin abundance is positively associated with the proportion of the landscape burnt, but they move away once vegetation recovers (Loyn 1980, 1985; Lindenmayer et al. 2014). Although breeding in upland areas, the relationship with climate change is complex with birds tending to arrive later at the highest altitudes (Green 2006, 2010). Although they are more common in regions retaining a high percentage of remnant native vegetation (Barrett et al. 2007), they preferentially occupy grassy mountain tops or areas with more open spaces and less understorey (Robinson 1990a,b, 1992a,b). No studies link historical clearing, cultivation, over-grazing and other historical and ongoing degradation of non-breeding habitat to robin population trends. Some peri-urban habitats ceased to attract wintering Flame Robins when they were no longer used for grazing cattle. The overall decline between atlases, which now appears to have ceased, and the reason for recent declines in Tasmania warrant investigation.

Conservation Actions Underway
No targeted conservation action is known for this species.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Analyse existing data to determine the extent and distribution of the decline, and correlate with environmental variables. Carry out monitoring at selected sites. Coordinate recovery actions with those of other woodland birds of the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range. Address the causes of climate change on a national and international basis.

Text account compilers
Vine, J., Berryman, A., Garnett, S.

Contributors
Taylor, J.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Flame Robin Petroica phoenicea. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/flame-robin-petroica-phoenicea on 22/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/11/2024.