Black-sided robin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-sided robin |
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| Illustration by J. G. Keulemans, c. 1894 | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Poecilodryas
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| Species: |
hypoleuca
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The black-sided robin (Poecilodryas hypoleuca) is a small bird found in New Guinea. It is also known as the pied robin. This bird lives in warm, wet lowland forests. It belongs to the Petroicidae family, which includes many types of robins.
Black-sided Robin
What Does It Look Like?
The black-sided robin is a small bird, about 13 to 15 centimeters (5 to 6 inches) long. It has striking black and white feathers.
Its upper parts, like its head, back, wings, and tail, are black or brownish-black. It also has a black stripe across its eyes.
In contrast, its eyebrows, throat, and belly are bright white. It also has a clear white patch on its wings. The bird's beak is black, its eyes are dark brown, and its legs are grey or pink.
Where Does It Live?
You can find the black-sided robin all over New Guinea. This includes areas from the Huon Peninsula in the east to the western parts of West Papua. However, it does not live in the southern "transfly" region.
This robin prefers to live in lowland rainforests and swamp forests. It can be found from sea level up to about 1200 meters (4000 feet) high.
What Does It Eat?
The black-sided robin is an insectivore, meaning it eats insects. It hunts for its food in the lower parts of the rainforest.
You might see it alone or in pairs. It often searches for insects on tree trunks, branches, or on the ground. This bird is quite shy, so you are more likely to hear its calls than to see it.
Its Name
The name Poecilodryas comes from two old Ancient Greek words. Poikilos means 'pied' (which means having two or more different colors, like black and white). Dryas means 'dryad', which is a tree spirit in Greek myths.
The species name hypoleuca also comes from Ancient Greek. Hypoleukos means 'whitish'. These names describe the bird's distinct black and white look.
