Slaty robin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blue-grey robin |
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| Genus: |
Peneothello
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| Species: |
cyanus
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The slaty robin (Peneothello cyanus), also known as the blue-grey robin, is a small bird. It belongs to the Petroicidae family, which includes many types of robins found in Australia and nearby islands. You can find this bird in the New Guinea Highlands and some northern parts of the island. It loves to live in warm, wet montane forests, which are forests found in mountainous areas.
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About the Slaty Robin
The slaty robin was first described by an Italian scientist named Tommaso Salvadori in 1874. It's part of a large group of birds called songbirds. Scientists study birds like the slaty robin to understand how different bird families are related to each other.
What Does It Look Like?
The slaty robin is a small bird, usually about 14 to 15 centimeters (about 5.5 to 6 inches) long. It has a pretty blue-grey color all over its body. Its tummy is a bit lighter, and its cheeks and face are a little darker. The tail and the feathers it uses for flying are grey-black. It has a black beak, black feet, and dark brown eyes.
Where Does It Live?
You can find the slaty robin high up in the mountains of New Guinea. They live at altitudes from about 900 to 2,750 meters (about 3,000 to 9,000 feet) above sea level. These birds prefer to stay in the rainforest's lower parts, called the understory, or even on the ground. They often live in pairs.
What Does It Eat?
The slaty robin is an insectivorous bird, which means it mostly eats insects. It hunts for its food by looking closely at surfaces and picking off insects. Some of its favorite foods include ants, beetles, and a type of wasp called thyonnid wasps.
Family Life (Reproduction)
Slaty robins build their nests in a cup shape. They make their nests from small roots and line them with soft moss. You can usually find a slaty robin's nest in the fork of a tree, about 6 meters (about 20 feet) off the ground. The female bird lays one or two eggs. These eggs are pale greenish or olive in color and have spots of olive or brown. Each egg is about 23.5 mm long and 17–19 mm wide.
