Norfolk Robin (Petroica multicolor) [XC120896]
by Phil Gregory from Burnt Pine, Australia (alarm call)
Norfolk Robin (Petroica multicolor) [XC466783]
by William Goulding from Mt Bates track, Norfolk Island National Park, Australia (song)
Nest
Cup-shaped, made of bark strips, mosses and dry grass, bound with cobweb and thickly lined with fur, feathers or plant-down, usually decorated on the outside with small pieces of bark or lichen. Built in a charred stump or in an open fork or hollow spout at almost any height above the ground.
Eggs (Guide)
Usually 3; pale blue, green or grey thickly marked and freckled with purple-grey or brown, often forming a zone at the larger end; swollen-oval; about 18 x 14 mm. Incubation: about 15 - 17 days; by female.
Young
Altricial, nidicolous. Fledge in 15 - 17 days. Fed by both parents.
Subspecies
Forms a species group with Scarlet Robin (Petroica boodang) and New Zealand Tomtit (Petroica macrocephala). Conventionally considered conspecific with Scarlet Robin (Petroica boodang), but differs in plumage (reduced white on forehead, wing and tail, browner female), morphology and size. Relationship between nominate subspecies and New Zealand Tomtit (Petroica macrocephala) of New Zealand requires further investigation.
The following 14 subspecies are recognised:
septentrionalis (Gmelin, 1789) - Bougainville I. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Pacific Robin (Petroica pusilla).
kulambangrae Mayr, 1934 - Kolombangara, in western Solomon Is. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Pacific Robin (Petroica pusilla).
dennisi Cain and I. C. J. Galbraith, 1955 - Guadalcanal, in southern Solomons. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Pacific Robin (Petroica pusilla).
polymorpha Mayr, 1934 - San Cristobal (Makira), in south-eastern Solomons. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Pacific Robin (Petroica pusilla).
soror Mayr, 1934 - Vanua Lava, in Banks Is. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Pacific Robin (Petroica pusilla).
ambrynensis Sharpe, 1900 - Banks Is (Meralba, Gaua) and northern and central Vanuatu (Espiritu Santo, Aoba, Ambrym, Paama, Lopevi, Tongoa). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Pacific Robin (Petroica pusilla).
feminina Mayr, 1934 - Central Vanuatu (Éfaté, Emao). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Pacific Robin (Petroica pusilla).
cognata Mayr, 1938 - Erromango, in south-central Vanuatu. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Pacific Robin (Petroica pusilla).
similis G. R. Gray, 1860 - Southern Vanuatu (Tanna, Aneityum). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Pacific Robin (Petroica pusilla).
multicolor (Gmelin, 1789) - Norfolk I.
kleinschmidti Finsch, 1876 - Western and northern Fiji (Viti Levu, Vanua Levu). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Pacific Robin (Petroica pusilla).
taveunensis Holyoak, 1979 - North-eastern Fiji (Taveuni). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Pacific Robin (Petroica pusilla).
becki Mayr, 1934 - Southern Fiji (Kadavu). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Pacific Robin (Petroica pusilla).
pusilla Peale, 1848 - Samoa (Savai'i, Upolu). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Pacific Robin (Petroica pusilla).
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
BirdLife International Species Factsheet