White-winged robin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-winged robin |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Peneothello
|
| Species: |
sigillata
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Peneothello sigillatus |
|
The white-winged robin (Peneothello sigillata) is a small bird that belongs to the robin family called Petroicidae.
Contents
Where the White-winged Robin Lives
The white-winged robin makes its home in the New Guinea Highlands. It likes to live in wet mountain forests in warm areas. You can find these birds high up in the mountains of New Guinea, usually between 2,400 to 3,900 metres (7,900 to 12,800 ft) above sea level. Another bird, the slaty robin, lives in similar areas but at lower heights.
What the White-winged Robin Looks Like
This robin is about 14 to 15 centimetres (5.5 to 5.9 in) long, which is about the size of a small songbird. Adult white-winged robins are mostly black, but they have large white patches on their wings. Both male and female robins look exactly the same. Their beak and feet are black, and their eyes are dark brown. Young robins look a bit different; they have brown feathers with streaks.
How the White-winged Robin Behaves
You can often spot these robins in the forest, either in pairs or in small groups. They usually stay in the lower parts of the forest or on the ground. White-winged robins mostly eat insects, but they also munch on some seeds. They build their nests in the shape of a cup, often in the fork of a tree. Their nests can be a bit bulky.
White-winged Robin Family Members
The white-winged robin was first described by a scientist named Charles Walter De Vis in 1890. It is part of the Australasian robin family, Petroicidae.
Different Types of White-winged Robins
Scientists recognize three slightly different types, or subspecies, of the white-winged robin:
- The main type, called the nominate subspecies, lives along the main mountain range of New Guinea, from the Bismarck Range eastward.
- The hagenensis subspecies is found from Mount Hagen west into a region called Irian Jaya.
- The saruwagedi subspecies lives on the Huon Peninsula.
