Pacific Robin
Petroica pusilla
The Pacific Robin (Petroica pusilla) is a rare australasian robin found in 3 countries, weighing about 11 g. The Pacific robin, is a red-breasted Australasian robin in the passerine bird genus Petroica found in Melanesia and Polynesia.
About the Pacific Robin
The Pacific robin, is a red-breasted Australasian robin in the passerine bird genus Petroica found in Melanesia and Polynesia. It is similar in plumage to the scarlet robin of Australia, and until recently the two were considered conspecific until split in 1999 by Schodde and Mason. Thirteen subspecies of Pacific robin are currently recognised, and these subspecies display considerable variation in plumage, foraging preferences, and habitat. The Norfolk robin was previously considered a subspecies of the Pacific robin, but is now considered a distinct species.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Pacific robin is a small passerine, 11.5–13.5 cm long and weighing 9–11 g. Over much of its range, it is the smallest species of bird. The plumage of the males and females is dimorphic, and the extent of this varies depending on the subspecies. The male of the nominate race has a black head with a white forehead, a black back and tail, and the wings are also black with a white bar. The breast and belly are red, and the lower belly and rump are white. The female lacks the white forehead and the white bar on the wing; and the black plumage of the male is replaced by dark brown feathers.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in August. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Pacific Robin?
- The Pacific robin is a small passerine, 11.5–13.5 cm long and weighing 9–11 g. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Pacific Robin?
- The Pacific Robin is a tiny sized bird weighing about 11 g.
- Where can you see a Pacific Robin?
- The Pacific Robin occurs in 3 countries, including Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu.
- What birds look similar to a Pacific Robin?
- The Pacific Robin is most easily confused with the Black Robin, the Mountain Robin and the Solomons Robin.
Learn the Pacific Robin for real
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