| Pale-yellow robin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Subspeciescapito | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Petroicidae |
| Genus: | Tregellasia |
| Species: | T. capito |
| Binomial name | |
| Tregellasia capito (Gould, 1854) | |
Thepale-yellow robin (Tregellasia capito) is a species ofpasserine bird in the familyPetroicidae. It isendemic to easternAustralia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is a nondescript bird with grey head and olive upperparts, white throat and yellow underparts. The sexes are similar. Two subspecies are recognised: the smallernana from North Queensland, and the larger and uncommon nominate racecapito from southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales. It is insectivorous.
The pale-yellow robin was first described by ornithologistJohn Gould in 1854.[2] For many years, it was classified with the other yellow robins in the genusEopsaltria, on the basis of plumage, nests, and behaviour. Others have placed it with the genusPoecilodryas, due to the similarly plumaged fledglings. However, the closest relatives of both it and the relatedwhite-faced robin remain unclear, and are hence placed in their own small genusTregellasia, originally erected byGregory Mathews in 1912.[3] Like all Australian robins, it is not closely related to either theEuropean robin or theAmerican robin, but belongs rather to theCorvidaparvorder, comprising many tropical and Australian passerines, includingpardalotes,fairy-wrens andhoneyeaters, as well ascrows.
Alternate common names given to the species have been large-headed robin and pale robin.[4]
The male and female pale-yellow robin are similar in plumage. Measuring 12–13.5 centimetres (4.7–5.3 in) and weighing 15–18 grams (0.53–0.63 oz), it is a bird of subdued appearance, with grey head and nape blending into olive-green upperparts, more brownish on the wings and tail. The throat is white, and the lores are off-white in the southern race and buff in the northern race. The breast and belly are yellow. The legs are yellow-orange and the iris dark brown. The thin black bill is around 1.5 centimetres (0.59 in) long. Juvenile birds arerufous with paler streaks on the head.[4] It can be distinguished from theeastern yellow robin, as the latter bird has black legs and is a little larger.[7]
The pale-yellow robin makes a trilling call when displaying or defending its territory.
Sedentary in its range, the pale-yellow robin is found from Mount Amos to Paluma in North Queensland, and fromCooloola on theSunshine Coast south toBarrington Tops National Park in New South Wales. It prefers rainforest or dense eucalypt forest, particularly where the lawyer vine grows.[4]
The pale-yellow robin is arboreal and secretive. It is predominantly insectivorous, though may supplement its diet with seeds.[7]
It uses the prickly lawyer vine (Calamus muelleri) as nesting material and as a nest site.[8] Thenest may be anywhere up to 10 m (30 ft) above the ground, though often much lower. Breeding season is July to December with one, or sometimes two, broods. A clutch of 2 oval eggs, measuring 20 by 15 millimetres (0.79 in × 0.59 in), is laid. They are pale green, splotched with brownish marks.[9]
Media related toTregellasia capito at Wikimedia Commons
Data related toPale-yellow robin at Wikispecies