White-breasted robin

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White-breasted Robin
Eopsaltria georgiana -Denmark, Western Australia, Australia-8.jpg
In Western Australia
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Petroicidae
Genus: Eopsaltria
Species:
E. georgiana
Binomial name
Eopsaltria georgiana
(Quoy & Gaimard, 1832)
Synonyms [2]

Muscicapa georgianaQuoy & Gaimard, 1830
Eopsaltria leucogasterGould, 1846
Quoyornis georgianusMathews, 1912
Eopsaltria leucogastraGadow, 1883

Contents

The white-breasted robin (Eopsaltria georgiana) is a passerine bird in the Australasian robin family Petroicidae and the yellow robin genus Eopsaltria. Occasionally it is placed in the genus Quoyornis Mathews, 1912. It is endemic to southwestern Australia. Unlike many other Australian robins, it lacks bright colours in its plumage, being a predominantly greyish bird with white underparts. Like other closely related Australasian robins, it is a cooperative breeder. It is sedentary, with pairs or small groups maintaining territories.

Taxonomy

The white-breasted robin was first described by the French naturalists Jean René Constant Quoy and Joseph Paul Gaimard in 1830 as Muscicapa georgiana, [3] [lower-alpha 1] taking its name from the site King George Sound, where the authors had collected specimens. [5] It was later described by John Gould in 1846 as Eopsaltria leucogaster, [6] though as the former took precedence, its specific name remains georgiana. [2] Australian amateur ornithologist Gregory Mathews described a paler specimen from Warren River as a distinct subspecies warreni, [7] though this was not recognised subsequently. [2]

A 2009 genetic analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA unexpectedly placed the white-breasted robin as sister taxon to the two Tregellasia robins native to northeastern Australia. [8] This result was confirmed by another molecular phylogenetic study published in 2011. [9] The species is currently in the genus Eopsaltria; however, some people place it in its own genus Quoyornis, which was introduced by Mathews in 1912. [10] [11] The name combines Quoy's name with the Ancient Greek ornis 'bird'. [12]

White-breasted robin is the official name given to this species by the International Ornithologists' Union (IOC). [13] Although, like all Australian robins, it is not closely related to either the European robin or the American robin. [14] Gould had called it 'white-bellied robin' in 1848, and other terms used included grey-breasted or white-breasted shrike-robin from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The 'shrike-' prefix was dropped by the RAOU in 1926. [15] It is known as boydjil by the local indigenous people of Augusta. [16]

Description

The white-breasted robin ranges between 14.5 and 17.0 cm (5+3⁄4 and 6+3⁄4 in) long, with a wingspan of 22–25 cm (8+3⁄4–9+3⁄4 in). The male weighs 20.5 g, while the female is lighter at 16.5 g. [17] Males and females are similar in coloration, with blue-grey upperparts, paler eyebrows, and whitish underparts. The grey tail is tipped with white. Bills and feet are black in colour, while eyes are dark brown. Birds from the northern part of its range are smaller and darker grey in colour. Juveniles are brownish. [18]

Distribution and habitat

The white-breasted robin is found in Western Australia south from Geraldton to the southwest corner of the continent. Within this area, it is mainly restricted to two areas of different habitat. In the main southern part of its range, it is found in an area bounded by Jarrahdale and Woorooloo on or east of the Darling Scarp, and south-east to Beaufort Inlet. Here it occurs in tall forest dominated by karri ( Eucalyptus diversicolor ), where it is found in dense undergrowth of such plant species as karri hazel ( Trymalium odoratissimum subsp. trifidum), karri she–oak ( Allocasuarina decussata ), and nedik ( Bossiaea aquifolium ), typically along rivers and gullies. It also inhabits dry sclerophyll forest of karri, jarrah ( Eucalyptus marginata ), and bull banksia ( Banksia grandis ), where it lives in the 2–3 m high understory. The northern population is found along a narrow band from Geraldton south to Yanchep National Park, where it lives in coastal thickets—often covered in dodder—of Acacia rostellifera , Acacia cyclops , Melaleuca cardiophylla growing over sand dunes on limestone soils. It is sedentary, with pairs or small groups maintaining territories in its range. [19]

Behaviour

Nesting in Western Australia Eopsaltria georgiana -Northcliff, Western Australia, Australia -nest-8.jpg
Nesting in Western Australia

The white-breasted robin is a cooperative breeder; breeding pairs are often assisted by one or more helper birds that help to raise young. [20] Helper birds are mostly male; female birds are more likely to leave the territory in the first year of their life, while males are more likely to remain. [20]

Breeding

Breeding season is late winter to early summer, with up to two broods raised. The nest is a neat cup made of dry grass, bark, and spider webs, generally located in a tree-fork in dense scrub, close to a watercourse. [21] Two pale olive- to blue-green eggs, often splotched with a darker variant of the background colour, are laid. They measure 16 mm x 21 mm, and one is often much paler than the other. [22] Incubation lasts 16 or 17 days, with young leaving the nest two weeks after hatching. [20]

Feeding

The white-breasted robin is insectivorous, foraging for its prey mainly on or near the ground, in or beneath undergrowth. [19]

Notes

  1. ↑ Although the ornithological section of the Voyage de la corvette l'Astrolabe has 1830 on the title page, it was not published until 1832, [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australasian robin</span> Family of birds

The bird family Petroicidae includes 51 species in 19 genera. All are endemic to Australasia: New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand and numerous Pacific Islands as far east as Samoa. For want of an accurate common name, the family is often called the Australasian robins. Within the family species are known variously as robins, scrub-robins and flyrobins. They are only distantly related to the European robin of Europe, north Africa and western Asia, a member of family Muscicapidae.

<i>Petroica</i> Genus of birds

Petroica is a genus of Australasian robins, named for their red and pink markings. They are not closely related to the European robins nor the American robins.

<i>Eopsaltria</i> Genus of birds

Eopsaltria is a genus of small forest passerines known in Australia as the yellow robins. They belong to the Australasian robin family Petroicidae. The name is derived from the Ancient Greek for "dawn singer/song" because of their dawn chorus. They are inquisitive and bold birds, and have been reported perching on the shoulders or boots of people in the bush. Open eucalyptus woodlands are their preferred habitat. The ornithologist John Gould likened the behaviour and mannerisms of the eastern and western yellow robin to those of the European robin. The name "yellow robin" itself was applied to the eastern yellow robin by the early settlers of New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern scrub robin</span> Species of bird

The southern scrub robin is a species of bird in the family Petroicidae. It is endemic to Australia, where it occurs in mallee and heathland in the semi-arid southern parts of the continent, extending from Wyperfeld National Park in Victoria in the east through South Australia to the west coast between Kalbarri and the Pinnacles in Nambung National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-bellied flyrobin</span> Species of songbird native to New Caledonia

The yellow-bellied flyrobin is a species of passerine bird in the Australasian robin family Petroicidae. It is the only species in the genus Cryptomicroeca. The yellow-bellied flyrobin is endemic to New Caledonia, where it occurs on the island of Grande Terre. It occupies a range of habitats, including dry lowlands, woodland, Pinus and Pandanus forest, and humid forest from sea level up to 1,525 m (5,000 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western yellow robin</span> Species of songbird native to southern Australia

The western yellow robin is a species of bird in the Australasian robin family, Petroicidae, native to Australia. Described by John Gould in 1838, the western yellow robin and its Australian relatives are not closely related to either the European or American robins, but they appear to be an early offshoot of the Passerida group of songbirds. Ranging between 13.5 and 15.5 cm long, it has grey upperparts, and a grey breast and head, broken by whitish streaks near the bill and below the eye, with a conspicuous yellow belly. The sexes are similar in appearance. Two subspecies are recognized: subspecies griseogularis, which has a yellow rump, and subspecies rosinae with an olive-green rump.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mangrove robin</span> Species of songbird native to New Guinea and northern Australia

The mangrove robin is a passerine bird in the family Petroicidae. It is found in the Aru Islands, New Guinea, and northern Australia. The bird's common name refers to its natural habitat. They live in mangrove forests and seldom fly outside these biomes.

<i>Melanodryas</i> Genus of birds

Melanodryas is a genus of passerine birds in the Australasian robin family Petroicidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dusky robin</span> Species of songbird native to Tasmania

The dusky robin is a small passerine bird native to Tasmania. A member of the Australian robin family Petroicidae, it is known by many other names such as Dozey, Sad, Sleepy, Stump, Tasmania/Wood Robin; Native Sparrow or Sad Bird.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olive flyrobin</span> Species of songbird native to New Guinea

The olive flyrobin is a species of bird in the Australasian robin family Petroicidae that is found in New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-legged flyrobin</span> Species of songbird native to New Guinea and northern Australia

The yellow-legged flyrobin or yellow-legged flycatcher is a species of passerine bird in the Australasian robin family Petroicidae. It is found in New Guinea and Cape York Peninsula. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canary flyrobin</span> Species of songbird native to New Guinea

The canary flyrobin, also known as the Papuan flycatcher, canary robin, canary flycatcher, or montane flycatcher, is a species of bird in the family Petroicidae. It is found in New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests with elevations from 1,100–3,500 m (3,609–11,483 ft). Currently, its population is believed to be stable.

<i>Pachycephalopsis</i> Genus of birds

Pachycephalopsis is a genus of birds in the Australasian robin family Petroicidae that are found in New Guinea.

<i>Peneothello</i> Genus of birds

Peneothello is a genus of passerine birds in the Australasian robin family Petroicidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rose robin</span> Species of songbird native to southeastern Australia

The rose robin is a small passerine bird native to Australia. Like many brightly coloured robins of the Petroicidae, it is sexually dimorphic. The male has a distinctive pink breast. Its upperparts are dark grey with white frons, and its tail black with white tips. The underparts and shoulder are white. The female is an undistinguished grey-brown. The robin has a small black bill and eyes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-throated robin</span> Species of songbird native to New Guinea

The black-throated robin is a species of passerine bird in the Australisian robin family Petroicidae. It is found on the island of New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests at 1,150–2,750 metres above sea-level.

<i>Poecilodryas</i> Genus of birds

Poecilodryas is a genus of passerine birds in the Australasian robin family Petroicidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banded yellow robin</span> Species of songbird native to New Guinea

The banded yellow robin or olive-yellow robin is a species of bird in the Australasian robin family Petroicidae that is found in New Guinea. It is the only species in the genus Gennaeodryas. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss. It has a high mortality rate due to its inability to traverse across a matrix.

<i>Tregellasia</i> Genus of birds

Tregellasia is a genus of birds in the family Petroicidae that are found in Australia and New Guinea.

Kempiella is a genus of birds in the Australasian robin family Petroicidae that are found in Australia and New Guinea.

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Eopsaltria georgiana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Australian Biological Resources Study (12 June 2010). "Species Eopsaltria (Quoyornis) georgiana (Quoy & Gaimard, 1830)". Australian Faunal Directory. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Australian Government. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  3. ↑ Quoy, Jean; Gaimard, Joseph Paul (1830). Dumont d'Urville, Jules (ed.). Voyage de la corvette l'Astrolabe : exécuté par ordre du roi, pendant les années 1826-1827-1828-1829: Zoologie (in French). Vol. 1. Paris: J. Tastu. p. 175.
  4. ↑ Mlíkovský, Jiří (2012). "The dating of the ornithological part of Quoy and Gaimard's "Voyage de l'Astrolabe"". Zoological Bibliography. 2 (2&3): 59–69.
  5. ↑ Cayley, Neville W. (2011). Lindsey, Terence R. (ed.). What bird is that?: a completely revised and updated edition of the classic Australian ornithological work (Signature ed.). Walsh Bay, N.S.W.: Australia's Heritage Publishing. p. 65. ISBN   978-0-9870701-0-4.
  6. ↑ Gould, John (1846). "Descriptions of eleven new species of Australian birds". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 14: 18–21.
  7. ↑ Mathews, Gregory M. (1916). "List of additions of new sub-species to, and changes in, my "List of the Birds of Australia"". Austral Avian Records. 3 (3): 53–68 [59].
  8. ↑ Loynes, Kate; Joseph, Leo; Keogh, J. Scott (2009). "Multi-locus phylogeny clarifies the systematics of the Australo-Papuan robins (Family Petroicidae, Passeriformes)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 53 (1): 212–19. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.05.012. PMID   19463962.
  9. ↑ Christidis, L.; Irestedt, M.; Rowe, D.; Boles, W.E.; Norman, J.A. (2011). "Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA phylogenies reveal a complex evolutionary history in the Australasian robins (Passeriformes: Petroicidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 61 (3): 726–738. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2011.08.014. PMID   21867765.
  10. ↑ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2019). "Australasian robins, rockfowl, rockjumpers, Rail-babbler". World Bird List Version 9.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  11. ↑ Mathews, Gregory (1912). "New generic names for Australian birds". Austral Avian Record. 1: 105–117 [111].
  12. ↑ Jobling, J.A. (2019). del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D.A.; de Juana, E. (eds.). "Quoyornis". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive: Key to Scientific Names in Ornithology. Lynx Edicions. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  13. ↑ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2019). "Australasian robins, rockfowl, rockjumpers, Rail-babbler". World Bird List Version 9.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  14. ↑ Boles, Walter E. (1988). The Robins and Flycatchers of Australia. Sydney: Angus & Robertson. p. 119. ISBN   0-207-15400-7.
  15. ↑ Gray, Jeannie; Fraser, Ian (2013). Australian Bird Names: A Complete Guide. Collingwood, Victoria: Csiro Publishing. pp. 257–258. ISBN   978-0-643-10471-6.
  16. ↑ Abbott, Ian (2009). "Aboriginal names of bird species in south-west Western Australia, with suggestions for their adoption into common usage" (PDF). Conservation Science Western Australia Journal. 7 (2): 213–278 [263].
  17. ↑ Higgins 2002, p. 798.
  18. ↑ Simpson K, Day N, Trusler P (1993). Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Ringwood, Victoria: Viking O'Neil. p. 392. ISBN   0-670-90478-3.
  19. 1 2 Higgins 2002, p. 799.
  20. 1 2 3 Russell EM, Brown RJ, Brown MN (2004). "Life history of the white-breasted robin, Eopsaltria georgiana (Petroicidae), in south-western Australia". Australian Journal of Zoology. 52 (2): 111–45. doi:10.1071/ZO03049.
  21. ↑ Cooney SJN, Watson DM, Young J (2006). "Mistletoe nesting in Australian birds: a review" (PDF). Emu. CSIRO Publishing. 106: 1–12. doi:10.1071/MU04018. S2CID   84296716 . Retrieved 2007-06-07.
  22. ↑ Beruldsen, Gordon (2003). Australian Birds: Their Nests and Eggs. Kenmore Hills, Qld: self. pp. 336–337. ISBN   0-646-42798-9.

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