Pacific Robin

SCI Name:  Petroica pusilla
Protonym:  Petroica pusilla U.S.Expl.Exped. 8 p. 93, pl. 25, fig. 3
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Petroicidae / Petroica
Taxonomy Code:  pacrob1
Type Locality:  Upolu, Samoan Islands.
Author:  Peale
Publish Year:  1848
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

PETROICA
(Petroicidae; Ϯ Norfolk Island Robin P. multicolor) Gr. πετρα petra  rock, crag; οικος oikos  dwelling  < οικεω oikeō  to inhabit; "PETROICA multicolor.  Scarlet-breasted Robin.   Family Sylviadæ.   GENERIC CHARACTER.   Bill slender, the sides compressed, the tip gradually bent, and beset with bristles at the base.  Wings long; the first quill spurious; the second intermediate in length between the sixth and seventh.  Tarsi elevated, the inner toe manifestly shorter than the external toe.  Tail broad, even.   ...  Lewin, who wrote upon the spot, observes that although in some respects solitary, it frequents the abodes of man in winter, like the Robin; which it further resembles in its note.  ...   Mr. Caley mentions that he saw "this bird in November" (our European summer), "when far distant in the mountains, in the roughest part of the country I had then or since visited." Linn. Tr. 15. p. 245.  Mr. Caley, moreover, as if perfectly aware of its natural affinities, names it the Australian Redstart." (Swainson 1830); "Petroica Swainson, 1830, Zool. Illustr., ser. 2, pt. 8, pl. 36 and text. Type, by monotypy, Muscicapa multicolor Gmelin." (Mayr in Peters 1986, XI, 562).   
Var. Petroeca.   
Synon. Belchera, Erythrodryas, Littlera, Miro, Myiomoira, Myioscopus, Nesomiro, Whiteornis.

pusilla
L. pusillus  very little, very small  < dim. pusus  little boy  < puer  boy.
● ex “Cinclus dominicensis minor” of Brisson 1760 (Calidris).
● ex “Small Nuthatch” of Catesby 1731, “Petit Torchepot de la Caroline” of Brisson 1760, and “Petite Sittelle à tête brune” of de Buffon 1770-1783 (Sitta).
● ex “Little Sparrow” of Catesby 1731 (Spizella).
● "59. CERTHIA.  ...  pusilla.  2. C. supra grisea, subtus alba, rectricibus fuscis: extimis apice albis.  Certhia fusca minor. Edw. av. 26. l. 26.  Habitat in India." (Linnaeus 1758) (unident.; nom. dub.).

SUBSPECIES

Pacific Robin (Solomons)
SCI Name: Petroica pusilla [polymorpha Group]
PETROICA
(Petroicidae; Ϯ Norfolk Island Robin P. multicolor) Gr. πετρα petra  rock, crag; οικος oikos  dwelling  < οικεω oikeō  to inhabit; "PETROICA multicolor.  Scarlet-breasted Robin.   Family Sylviadæ.   GENERIC CHARACTER.   Bill slender, the sides compressed, the tip gradually bent, and beset with bristles at the base.  Wings long; the first quill spurious; the second intermediate in length between the sixth and seventh.  Tarsi elevated, the inner toe manifestly shorter than the external toe.  Tail broad, even.   ...  Lewin, who wrote upon the spot, observes that although in some respects solitary, it frequents the abodes of man in winter, like the Robin; which it further resembles in its note.  ...   Mr. Caley mentions that he saw "this bird in November" (our European summer), "when far distant in the mountains, in the roughest part of the country I had then or since visited." Linn. Tr. 15. p. 245.  Mr. Caley, moreover, as if perfectly aware of its natural affinities, names it the Australian Redstart." (Swainson 1830); "Petroica Swainson, 1830, Zool. Illustr., ser. 2, pt. 8, pl. 36 and text. Type, by monotypy, Muscicapa multicolor Gmelin." (Mayr in Peters 1986, XI, 562).   
Var. Petroeca.   
Synon. Belchera, Erythrodryas, Littlera, Miro, Myiomoira, Myioscopus, Nesomiro, Whiteornis.

Pacific Robin (Vanuatu)
SCI Name: Petroica pusilla [pusilla Group]
PETROICA
(Petroicidae; Ϯ Norfolk Island Robin P. multicolor) Gr. πετρα petra  rock, crag; οικος oikos  dwelling  < οικεω oikeō  to inhabit; "PETROICA multicolor.  Scarlet-breasted Robin.   Family Sylviadæ.   GENERIC CHARACTER.   Bill slender, the sides compressed, the tip gradually bent, and beset with bristles at the base.  Wings long; the first quill spurious; the second intermediate in length between the sixth and seventh.  Tarsi elevated, the inner toe manifestly shorter than the external toe.  Tail broad, even.   ...  Lewin, who wrote upon the spot, observes that although in some respects solitary, it frequents the abodes of man in winter, like the Robin; which it further resembles in its note.  ...   Mr. Caley mentions that he saw "this bird in November" (our European summer), "when far distant in the mountains, in the roughest part of the country I had then or since visited." Linn. Tr. 15. p. 245.  Mr. Caley, moreover, as if perfectly aware of its natural affinities, names it the Australian Redstart." (Swainson 1830); "Petroica Swainson, 1830, Zool. Illustr., ser. 2, pt. 8, pl. 36 and text. Type, by monotypy, Muscicapa multicolor Gmelin." (Mayr in Peters 1986, XI, 562).   
Var. Petroeca.   
Synon. Belchera, Erythrodryas, Littlera, Miro, Myiomoira, Myioscopus, Nesomiro, Whiteornis.

Pacific Robin (Samoan)
SCI Name: Petroica pusilla pusilla
pusilla
L. pusillus  very little, very small  < dim. pusus  little boy  < puer  boy.
● ex “Cinclus dominicensis minor” of Brisson 1760 (Calidris).
● ex “Small Nuthatch” of Catesby 1731, “Petit Torchepot de la Caroline” of Brisson 1760, and “Petite Sittelle à tête brune” of de Buffon 1770-1783 (Sitta).
● ex “Little Sparrow” of Catesby 1731 (Spizella).
● "59. CERTHIA.  ...  pusilla.  2. C. supra grisea, subtus alba, rectricibus fuscis: extimis apice albis.  Certhia fusca minor. Edw. av. 26. l. 26.  Habitat in India." (Linnaeus 1758) (unident.; nom. dub.).