From Opus

Photo by Michele Sawyer
Location: Sth Bruny Island, Tasmania, Australia

Petroica rodinogaster

[edit] Identification

Length 11.5-13cm (4.5-5.1in). Black throat and upperparts, tan-buff wing-bars, deep lilac-pink breast and belly, small white patch on the forehead. Plain tail. Females - olive-brown upperparts, cinnamon-buff underparts, a buff forehead spot, and pink wash on the breast.

[edit] Similar Species

Similar in morph and markings to all the other members of its genus, but P. rodinogaster is the only one with pink (instead of red) over the entire chest and belly. Only the crissum is white.

[edit] Distribution

Uncommon in Australia - southern Victoria and south-east New South Wales as well as in Tasmania.

[edit] Taxonomy

Two subspecies are recognized:

• rodinogaster in Tasmania and small islands around there
• inexspectata in mainland Australia

[edit] Habitat

Damp forest and open habitat.

[edit] Behaviour

Diet includes spiders and insects, which it takes by watching patiently from a perch, then dropping to the ground.

The nest, made by the female, is deep and spherical made of moss, cobwebs, lichen, and fur. 2 clutches can be produced.

[edit] References

1. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019

• List of references

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on the ABID