Redthroat

Pyrrholaemus brunneus

This small, secretive songbird of Australia's arid interior is known for its striking crimson throat patch and melodious warbling call.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Redthroat is a small, inconspicuous bird with predominantly brown plumage. Its most distinctive feature is a bright red patch on the throat, contrasting sharply with its otherwise muted colouration. The upperparts are greyish-brown, while the underparts are lighter, often with a buff tinge.

Females have a much more browner plumage, and have a fainter red patch on the throat.

Juveniles resemble adults but may have a paler or less defined red throat patch. The bird's compact size and rounded shape are characteristic of its family.

Size

Length

12cm to 14cm

Wingspan

16cm to 18cm

Weight

8g to 12g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Brown Red

Secondary Colour

Grey White

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown Red

Secondary Colour (Female)

Grey

Beak Colour (Female)

Black

Leg Colour (Female)

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Redthroat can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Redthroat is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Redthroat is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Redthroat is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Redthroat is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Redthroat is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Redthroat is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Redthroat is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Redthroat is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Redthroat is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Redthroat is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Redthroat is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Redthroats are endemic to Australia and found across much of the arid and semi-arid interior of the continent. They inhabit a variety of scrubland and woodland environments, showing a preference for areas with dense, low vegetation, such as saltbush, bluebush, and acacia shrublands.

Their distribution extends from western New South Wales and southwestern Queensland, across South Australia to parts of Western Australia. They are generally non-migratory, maintaining their territories year-round, though some local movements may occur in response to resource availability.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,000 meters

Climate zones

Arid, Semi-arid

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Redthroat. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons