100px|Red-capped Robin (Petroica goodenovii) photographed in Mulga
View, SW Queensland, Australia
The Red-capped Robin is a small passerine bird native to Australia.
Found in dryer regions across much of the continent, it inhabits scrub
and open woodland. Like many brightly coloured robins of the
Petroicidae family, it is sexually dimorphic. Measuring 10.5–12.5 cm
(4–5 in) in length, the robin has a small thin black bill, and dark
brown eyes and legs. The male has a distinctive red cap and red breast,
black upperparts, and a black tail with white tips. The underparts and
shoulders are white. The female is an undistinguished grey-brown. This
species uses a variety of songs, and males generally sing to advertise
territories and attract females. Birds are encountered in pairs or
small groups, but the social behaviour has been little studied. The
position of the Red-capped Robin and its Australian relatives on the
passerine family tree is unclear; the Petroicidae are not closely
related to either the European or American Robins but appear to be an
early offshoot of the Passerida group of songbirds. The Red-capped
Robin is a predominantly ground-feeding bird and its prey consists of
insects and spiders. Although widespread, it is uncommon in much of its
range and has receded in some areas from human activity. (more...)
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<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-capped_Robin>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1776:
American Revolutionary War: George Washington and his army crossed the
Delaware River to launch a surprise attack on Hessian mercenaries at
the Battle of Trenton.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington%27s_crossing_of_the_Delaware_River>
1941:
Second World War: The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began after Mark
Aitchison Young, the Governor of Hong Kong, surrendered the territory
to Japan after 18 days of fierce fighting.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_occupation_of_Hong_Kong>
1950:
The Stone of Scone, the traditional coronation stone of Scottish,
English, and more recently British monarchs, was stolen from London's
Westminster Abbey.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_of_Scone>
2007:
A tiger at the San Francisco Zoo escaped from its enclosure and
attacked three patrons before it was shot and killed.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Zoo_tiger_attacks>
2009:
The 19th-century St Mel's Cathedral in Longford, considered the
"flagship cathedral" of the Irish midlands, was destroyed by fire.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mel%27s_Cathedral>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
synod (n):
An ecclesiastic council or meeting to consult on church matters
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/synod>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King.
Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room,
And
heav'n and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature
sing.
--Isaac Watts
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Isaac_Watts>