Tiwi Islands Hooded Robin, Hooded Robin (Tiwi Islands)  |  

Melanodryas cucullata melvillensis

Status: Critically Endangered on the EPBC Act list

The Hooded Robin (Tiwi Islands), is a small woodland bird growing to approximately 15 cm long. Adult males have a black ‘hood’ and upper body, white shoulder-bar and wing-stripe and greyish-white underparts. Adult females are mostly grey with a dark brown wing, white wingstripe and greyish-white underparts.

Government evidence of impact of climate change:

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  • Australian Government, Conservation Advice, Melanodryas cucullata melvillensis

    Near Townsville the species had been recorded as more common in areas wth frequent fires (Kutt and Woinarski 2007); but the frequency of fire on the Tiwi Islands is much greater than near Townsville.
    These meagre data suggest that a decline occurred sometime between 1912 and 1992; presumably caused by changed fire regimes and reduced habitat quality (Garnett et al 2011).
    Habitat quality has and continues to decline due to change in fire regime and Garnett et al (2011) believe this is the most likely cause of decline or extinction.