Bird Watching Blog

Whitewinged robin

Peneothello sigillatus

SUBFAMILY

Petroicinae

TAXONOMY

Poecilodryas sigillata De Vis, 1890, southeastern New Guinea. OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: White-winged thicket-flycatcher; French: Miro a ailes blanches; German: Spiegeldickichtschnäpper; Spanish: Tordo Australiano de Alas Blancas.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

5.7 in (14.5 cm); c. 0.6 oz (16 g). All black with white on secondaries.

DISTRIBUTION

Central ranges of New Guinea and the mountains of Huon Peninsula. Four subspecies.

HABITAT

Mid-montane and subalpine forests and adjacent shrubs, between 6,500 and 12,000 ft (2,150-3,900 m) elevation.

BEHAVIOR

Tame; found singly, in pairs, or small family groups. Perches on mossy branches. Song is comprised of trilling and piping notes that rise and fall. Metallic notes and sharp alarm call.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Gleans and snatches from branches, trunks, and the ground for insects. Also takes some fruit.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Breeds from September to January. Bulky nest is made of green moss, dried fern, and rootlets, placed in a tree fork. Clutch is comprised of a single, light-olive-colored egg, sparsely marked with brown.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened. Common in its habitat.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS None known. ♦