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The Birds of Australia, Vol. 3 of 7 cover

The Birds of Australia, Vol. 3 of 7

Chapter 11: PETROICA SUPERCILIOSA, Gould. White-eyebrowed Robin.
By John Gould
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About This Book

A richly illustrated, taxonomic natural history volume cataloging numerous Australian bird species through detailed descriptions and plates. It combines morphological notes on plumage and variation with field observations of behavior, vocalizations, diet, nesting, eggs, and habitat preferences, and records geographic distribution across mainland regions, islands, and Tasmania. The author synthesizes specimen-based taxonomy with reports from collectors, distinguishes closely related forms, and documents occurrence and abundance, providing practical information on localities and natural history useful to both scientific readers and informed amateurs.

PETROICA SUPERCILIOSA, Gould.
White-eyebrowed Robin.

Petroica superciliosa, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part XIV. p. 106.

For our knowledge of this new species of Petroica we are indebted to the researches of Mr. Gilbert, who while in company with Dr. Leichardt, during his adventurous expedition from Moreton Bay to Port Essington, discovered it in the neighbourhood of the Burdekin Lakes towards the Gulf of Carpentaria. The following remarks in Mr. Gilbert’s Journal comprise all that is at present known respecting it:—“May 14th. In a ramble with my gun I shot a new bird, the actions of which assimilate to those of the Petroicæ and the Eöpsaltriæ; like the former it carries its tail very erect, but is more retiring in its habits than those birds; on the other hand, its notes resemble those of the latter. It inhabits the dense jungle-like vegetation growing beneath the shade of the fig-trees on the banks of the Burdekin. I succeeded in procuring two specimens.”

Superciliary stripe, throat, abdomen, under surface of the shoulder, and the bases of the primaries and secondaries white; lores, ear-coverts, wing-coverts, and the primaries and secondaries for some distance beyond the white deep black; all the upper surface, wings and tail sooty brown; all but the two central tail-feathers largely tipped with white; bill and feet black; irides reddish brown.

The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size.