Pacific robin

The Pacific robin, is a red-breasted Australasian robin in the passerine bird genus Petroica found in Melanesia and Polynesia. It is similar in plumage to the scarlet robin of Australia, and until recently the two were considered conspecific until split in 1999 by Schodde and Mason. Thirteen subspecies of Pacific robin are currently recognised, and these subspecies display considerable variation in plumage, foraging preferences, and habitat. The Norfolk robin was previously considered a subspecies of the Pacific robin, but is now considered a distinct species.

Distribution

Region

Southwest Pacific

Typical Environment

Found across Melanesia and parts of western Polynesia, including the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Samoa. It inhabits primary and secondary forests, forest edges, and wooded gardens. The species favors shaded understory and midstory perches from which it launches short sallies for prey. On some islands it persists in disturbed habitats, provided there is sufficient tree cover and perching sites.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1800 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size11–13 cm

Wing Span20–24 cm

Male Weight0.012 kg

Female Weight0.011 kg

Life Expectancy5 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The Pacific robin is a small Australasian robin famous for the male’s bright red or orange breast and the female’s subtler brown tones. It occupies many Pacific islands, with notable variation in plumage and habits among its numerous subspecies. Despite the name, it is only distantly related to the European robin; its foraging involves short sallies from low perches to snatch insects.

Gallery

Male Pacific robin, central Viti Levu, Fiji

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and territorial

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats

Social Behavior

Typically forms territorial pairs during the breeding season, maintaining small defended areas. Nests are neat cups placed on horizontal branches, forks, or tree ferns, built from fine fibers and spider webs. Pair bonds may persist across seasons on some islands, with both adults provisioning the young.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A clear, high-pitched series of tinkling notes and short trills delivered from low to mid-level perches. Calls include sharp ticks and soft contact chips, with pace and pitch varying among island populations.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Pacific screech owl

The Pacific screech owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. The Pacific screech owl has sometimes been treated as a race of western screech owl or eastern screech owl but its vocalizations are distinct from theirs. Two subspecies are recognized, the nominate M. c. cooperi and M. c. lambi. The latter has also sometimes been treated as a separate species. The IUCN has assessed the Pacific screech owl as being of Least Concern. Its population is estimated to exceed 50,000 mature individuals but is believed to be decreasing.

Pacific swallow

The Pacific swallow is a small passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae. It breeds in tropical southern Asia and the islands of the south Pacific. It is resident apart from some local seasonal movements. This bird is associated with coasts, but is increasingly spreading to forested uplands. It was formerly treated as conspecific with hill swallow, the welcome swallow and the Tahiti swallow.

Pacific swift

The Pacific swift is a species of bird that is part of the Swift family. It breeds in eastern Asia. It is strongly migratory, spending the northern hemisphere's winter in Southeast Asia and Australia. The general shape and blackish plumage recall its relative, the common swift, from which it is distinguished by a white rump band and heavily marked underparts. The sexes are identical in appearance, although young birds can be identified by pale fringes to the wing feathers that are absent in adults. This swift's main call is a screech typical of its family. It is one of a group of closely related Asian swifts formerly regarded as one species.

Paddyfield pipit

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