Norfolk Robin Petroica multicolor Scientific name definitions

12·5–13·5 cm; 12–18 g. Male has large white spot on forehead and forecrown; rest of head black, upperparts black; upperwing black, white on inner greater wing-coverts and tips of median coverts and diffuse white spots on bases of inner webs of inner primaries and secondaries (forming small shoulder patch and barely visible central wingbar on folded wing, wingstripe in flight); tail black, outer two feather pairs narrowly tipped white; chin and upper throat black, lower throat, breast and most of belly scarlet, crissum white, thighs black; iris brown; bill and legs black. Female has forehead light grey-brown, side of head mottled buffy, brown and grey, lores off-white, eyering buff; otherwise brown above, outer webs of inner primaries with pale spot about third of way from base and secondaries with off-white patch near base (form bar on folded wing, wingstripe in flight), tail dark brown, outer two feather pairs narrowly tipped off-white; chin and upper throat off-white, lower throat to upper belly light orange-scarlet, sides of breast and flanks pale brown, a slight orange-scarlet wash on breast-sides. Juvenile  grey-brown with pale streaks; immature like female, but lacks reddish wash on breast.

Conventionally considered conspecific with P. boodang, and until recently with P. pusilla, but recently shown to be most closely related to distinctive P. goodenovii (1 Kearns, A.M., Joseph, L., White, L.C., Austin, J.J., Baker, C., Driskell, A.C., Malloy, A.F. and Omland, K.E. (2016). Norfolk Island Robins are a distinct endangered species: ancient DNA unlocks surprising relationships and phenotypic discordance within the Australo-Pacific Robins. Conserv. Genet. 17(2): 321–335. Close ). Differs from P. pusilla in its (from limited available material) much larger size (significantly longer bill, wing and tail; also not sexually dimorphic in size) (allow 3); larger white forehead patch in male (1); and (from limited available recordings) much lower-pitched and differently structured song (allow 3); further research, involving comprehensive review of evidence, needed to confirm this diagnosis. Monotypic.

Norfolk I.

Inhabits mature rainforest, occasionally palm and introduced olive (Olea) stands, rarely exotic eucalypt (Eucalyptus) forest; prefers forest no taller than 10 m, and having rather open ground layer with deep moist leaf litter.

Insects and other invertebrates, such as spiders (Araneae) and pseudoscorpions (Pseudoscorpiones). Analyses of contents of 15 stomachs (2 Major, R.E. (1989). Reproductive Output and Recruitment of the Norfolk Island Scarlet Robin (Petroica multicolor multicolor) - Phase II. Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Canberra. Close ) found beetles (Coleoptera) present in all, hymenopterans in 53% and pseudoscorpions in 20%, with hemipteran bugs in 14%, springtails (Collembola) in 13%, and flies (Diptera), moth larvae (Lepidoptera), grasshoppers (Orthoptera) and spiders each in 7% of stomachs. Forages mostly in substage and midstorey of forest, but most prey captured on the ground; of 245 foraging observations, 60% comprised birds hopping along ground and gleaning or probing for food in litter layer, and 27% involved birds pouncing from low horizontal perches to take prey from ground (3 Robinson, D. (1988). Ecology and Management of the Scarlet Robin, White-breasted White-eye and Long-billed White-eye on Norfolk Island. Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Canberra. Close ). May sometimes join mixed-species foraging flocks.

Song a couple of “tut” notes followed by a fast chirping series descending and then rising again, often repeated. Alarm call a short whistle followed by a fast chatter.

Breeds Sept to late Dec. Territorial. Nest a small cup of fine plant fibres, bound with spider web, with lichen or moss attached externally, lined with plant fibres or feathers, usually placed in fork in small branch, occasionally on small branch or in tree hollow, at 1–15 m above ground; territory size 0·42–0·73 ha. Clutch 2–4 eggs, usually two, dull greyish white to pale greenish, with grey and brown spots and blotches often forming cap or zone near large end, average size 19·5 mm × 15 mm; incubation by female, chicks fed by both parents; no information on duration of incubation and nestling periods. Nests parasitized by Fan-tailed Cuckoo (Cacomantis flabelliformis). In one study, at least 36·4% of nests fledged at least one young.

ENDANGERED. Restricted-range species: confined to the Norfolk Island EBA. Population thought currently to contain fewer than 1000 mature individuals, and probably declining. Has declined and contracted since c. 1960 until, at start of 21st century, only c. 400 pairs remained, 90% of which are restricted to Norfolk Island National Park (IUCN Cat. II; 5·8 km²) which protects c. 12% of the island. Historically, there has been extensive clearance for timber, cultivation, pasture and smallholdings, and continued development has taken place on the island. In addition, predation on adults and fledglings by cats and nest predation by rats (Rattus) have combined to reduce the bird’s numbers; these invasive mammals, as well as exotic vegetation, are all still present on the island (although subject to control measures over part of the island).