Green-backed Robin Pachycephalopsis hattamensis Scientific name definitions

15 cm; 33–35 g. Nominate race has crown, hindneck and side of head  to below eye grey, lores white, back olive-green, uppertail-coverts rusty brown; flight-feathers dark brownish-grey, edged reddish-brown to olive-brown on outer webs, lesser and median upperwing-coverts olive-green; tail dark brownish-grey, rectrices edged reddish-brown to olive-brown; chin, upper throat and malar region white  ; underparts  yellowish-olive, clearer and more yellow on lower abdomen, undertail-coverts orange, axillaries olive; iris pale grey; bill black; legs grey. Sexes alike. Juvenile undescribed. Race ernesti has breast darker green, with grey wash on upper part; insularis similar to previous, but white on chin reduced, uppertail-coverts olive (not brown), tail darker; axillaris has underparts paler, axillaries more yellow; lecroyae is darker overall, with throat white, lower breast lacking grey wash, undertail-coverts more orange, axillaries more olive.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Hill forest and lower montane forest, mainly at 760–1650 m, locally to 2000 m. Where sympatric with P. poliosoma, usually replaces that species above 975 m.

Presumably sedentary.

Insects. Forages in low substage and on ground, particularly in areas with abundant ferns and tall herbs.

Includes 3 progressively higher upslurred buzzy notes, usually followed by 2 higher notes at one pitch; a piercing whistled upslur, and a short repeated unslurred note.

Uncompleted nest found: composed of moss, placed c. 0·5 m from ground and well hidden in bend of liana. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Restricted-range species: present in West Papuan Highlands EBA, North Papuan Mountains EBA, Central Papuan Mountains EBA and Yapen Secondary Area. Locally common, but secretive and easily overlooked; presence revealed in most cases by voice.