Collared bush robin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Collared bush robin |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Muscicapidae |
| Genus: | Tarsiger |
| Species: |
T. johnstoniae
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| Binomial name | |
| Tarsiger johnstoniae (Ogilvie-Grant, 1906)
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The collared bush robin (also called Johnstone's robin) is a small, colorful bird found only in Taiwan. It belongs to the Muscicapidae family, which includes many types of flycatchers and thrushes. These birds live in the cool, high-up forests of Taiwan's mountains. Good news! The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says this robin is a 'least concern' species, meaning it's not currently in danger.
Contents
What's in a Name?
This bird got its scientific name, Tarsiger johnstoniae, from William Robert Ogilvie-Grant in 1906. He described it after Walter Goodfellow collected some specimens on Yushan, Taiwan's tallest mountain.
The name "johnstoniae" honors Marion A. Johnstone. She was a famous bird expert who loved keeping and studying birds. Walter Goodfellow had even sent her a special parrot called a lorikeet before!
What Does it Look Like?
The collared bush robin is about 12 centimeters (about 5 inches) long. The males and females look quite different, which is common in the bird world!
Male Collared Bush Robin
The male has a cool slate-black head with a bright white stripe above its eye, called a supercilium. Its upper chest, back of the neck, and shoulders are a reddish-brown color, forming a collar. The rest of its back is a sooty-black. Its wings and tail are dark, too. Below, its chest is a yellowish-tan, and its belly can be grayish-white or yellowish-green. Both its beak and legs are black.
Female Collared Bush Robin
The female's white stripe above her eye is not as clear as the male's. Her upper body is mostly a dull olive-brown. Her wings and tail are dark brown. Her underside can vary. Her throat and chest are usually a warm brown, but sometimes her throat can be blackish, and her chest might be pale yellow or yellowish-olive.
Young Birds
Young collared bush robins look a bit like the females. But you can tell them apart because they have pale tan streaks and spots on their feathers.
Where Do They Live?
These robins are special because they are endemic to Taiwan. This means you won't find them naturally anywhere else in the world!
They live in mountain and subalpine forests. You'll usually find them at high elevations, between 2,000 and 2,800 meters (about 6,500 to 9,200 feet) above sea level. Sometimes, they even live above the tree line, where trees stop growing. In winter, they might move down to lower areas to find food and warmer spots.
They like to hide in the undergrowth of pine forests, especially where there are shrubs and bamboo. You might even spot them in parks or along roads in these mountain areas.
How Do They Behave?
Collared bush robins are often seen in pairs, but sometimes you'll see them alone. They are good at catching insects! They often perch on a branch and then quickly fly out to grab an insect. They also look for small bugs and other invertebrates on the ground and in low plants.
Bird Calls and Songs
These birds have different calls. They make "tuc" sounds, sometimes with "pi" notes in between. They also have a low "grruit" sound. Their song is a series of high-pitched, whistling notes, usually two or three at a time, sung from a perch.
Family Life
Collared bush robins usually breed from March to August. They can have two sets of babies each year! Both the male and female work together to protect their nesting area. The female builds a cup nest using plants. She usually lays two or three eggs.
Sometimes, collared bush robins can even hybridize (have babies with) a different type of bush robin called the white-browed bush robin.
Are They Safe?
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has looked at the collared bush robin's population. They believe the number of these birds is stable, meaning it's not going down. Because of this, they have assessed it as a least concern species. This is great news, as it means the collared bush robin is not currently at risk of disappearing.
See also
- List of protected species in Taiwan
- List of endemic species of Taiwan
- List of endemic birds of Taiwan
 | Jessica Watkins |
 | Robert Henry Lawrence Jr. |
 | Mae Jemison |
 | Sian Proctor |
 | Guion Bluford |
