White-eyed Robin Pachycephalopsis poliosoma Scientific name definitions

15–16·5 cm; 35–42 g. Nominate race is dark grey above, area from gape to ear-coverts sooty grey, uppertail-coverts slightly darker than back; upperwing and tail sooty grey; chin and throat mottled white, side of throat whiter and unmarked, underparts medium grey; iris pale grey or buffy; bill black; legs pinkish-grey to slate-blue. Sexes alike. Juvenile has upperparts dark olive-brown, lores very dark blackish-brown, chin white, throat, breast and flanks brown, white belly feathers tipped brown (mottled), undertail-coverts tan-coloured; immature differs from adult in having top of head, wings and tail much browner, tinged chestnut, and some feathers on breast and abdomen faintly mottled brownish. Race albigularis has chin and upper throat white, wing and tail greyish-black, belly little paler than breast; approximans is similar to previous, but white on throat reduced; balim has crown and breast tinged brown, uppertail-coverts and tail more brownish, white on throat more reduced, belly more whitish, undertail-coverts buff; idenburgi is like last, but crown and head side blacker, white on throat further reduced, remiges and rectrices edged darker brown; hunsteini has chin white with buff wash, throat grey, breast and belly darker, crown blacker, undertail-coverts buff; hypopolia is similar to last, but slightly smaller and paler.

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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, mostly at 400–1700 m, generally above 700 m; to 2200 m in Snow Mts. In WC & C range, where sympatric with P. hattamensis, usually replaced by that species above 975 m.

Presumably sedentary.

Insects; circumstantial evidence of larger prey (such as eggs or nestlings) also taken. Frequents low substage, at or below 2·5 m from ground. Most prey captured by gleaning from or making sally-strikes to undergrowth vegetation or ground.

Song a distinctive series of 4–10 loud, far-carrying, buzzing churring notes, the first few upslurred and then gradually rising. Call a clear bell-like whistle, “periwee”, on rising scale.

Males with enlarged testes in Aug, newly hatched chick in mid-Aug and juvenile in early Nov, indicative of breeding during middle to late dry season, at least. Nest a cup of rootlets and green moss; one was placed 1·3 m from ground in sapling. Clutch 1 egg, buff-white, densely and evenly blotched brown and light purplish-grey, more purplish-grey markings forming cap at larger end, size 27·3 × 19·4 mm. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Locally common to abundant. On Mt Karimui (E New Guinea) accounted for 12% of local avifauna in elevational zone of 1220–1280 m, where the most abundant species. Very secretive and difficult to observe; usually detected by voice.