Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a White-starred Robin (Pogonocichla stellata)
White-starred Robin

White-starred Robin

Pogonocichla stellata

The White-starred Robin, or Pogonocichla stellata, is a small, vividly colored bird with a bright yellow breast and belly. Its head is a slate color adorned with distinctive white spots at the eyes and throat, and its wings carry a hint of blue. This species is monotypic within its genus and exhibits sexual monomorphism, meaning males and females share a similar appearance.

Identification Tips

Adults of the nominate race boast a slate-grey head with white eye and throat spots. Their mantle is moss-green, transitioning to olive-green on the wings, while the rest of the wings are bluish-grey. The tail is black with yellow lateral stripes, and the legs are a soft pinkish hue. Juveniles are distinguishable by their blackish-brown upperparts with golden flecks and yellow underparts with brown scaling.

Habitat

The White-starred Robin thrives in moist evergreen forests with a rich understory of shrubs and vines. It can also be found in forest edges, plantations, and occasionally in bamboo or heath zones at higher elevations.

Distribution

This species is widely distributed across East and southern Africa, with its presence ranging from montane forests in the north to sea-level habitats further south. It is a partial migrant, moving to lower altitudes during the winter months, particularly in the southern parts of its range.

Behaviour

The White-starred Robin is a territorial bird, often seen foraging alone or in pairs. It exhibits altitudinal migration, with some populations descending to lower elevations during the non-breeding season.

Song & Calls

The robin's vocalizations are geographically variable, with both sexes singing a quiet territorial song from near the ground. The courtship call is a sustained "wiii wii wiii," while the loud contact call varies by subspecies, ranging from a disyllabic "too-twii" to a more complex multisyllabic sequence.

Breeding

Breeding seasons vary across the range, with the timing influenced by altitude and regional climate. The robin constructs a unique domed nest, camouflaged against the forest floor or elevated on a trunk or bank. Females lay two to three eggs, which they incubate alone.

Similar Species

While the White-starred Robin is monotypic, it can be confused with other robin species. However, its distinctive eye and throat spots, as well as its unique song, aid in differentiation.

Diet and Feeding

The diet is predominantly insectivorous, with beetles, moths, and ants being staple food items. Fruits are also consumed, with a variety of plant genera represented in their diet.

Conservation status

The White-starred Robin is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating a stable population across its extensive range.

White-starred Robin Sounds


Recorded by: © 
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

White-starred Robins on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Chats, Old World Flycatchers

Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Jane N
A great app
Enjoying it immensely and finding it useful too. Recording the different birds and counting them is showing me how the present climate is affecting them all. I've trebled the numbers by planting native hedging. A great app.
SuperOliviaGirl
Really great app
It’s easy to use and it’s fun to log the birds you notice on a walk or just in your garden. There’s a option to record the birds you see in a session which is really nice. Good excuse to stop for a while and just watch birds. I am also enjoying the information part where you can find out fact about birds from all over the world.
Bryan C
Clean and easy to use
Really enjoying this app, it's clean and easy to use. I love the ease of being able to add those one-off birds without starting a whole checklist. I also like the social aspect, like the parts of my Facebook I like, without the ads and junk, just birds. Can't wait to see it become more populated.
Paul F
Very good database
Highly recommend. It great that this app shows you male Vs female variations when posting. Very good database I'm really impressed.
Robred 2
Fun way to add to your birdwatching experience
I enjoy watching birds in my backyard, but this app helped me really pay attention while on vacation this summer. It was fun to add new birds to my bird watching app.
Erna M
I really like Birda
I really like Birda. I also use other birding apps and have Birda with E-bird going at the same time.
Nicole
Gets me outdoors more
I'm still loving this app. I use it most days & gets me outdoors more. Enjoying watching others progress and photo's, it's improved my wellbeing.... I love this app! I can keep a record of sightings and see what others have seen too.
Sacha0508
Simply fantastic
I love this app, it puts so much fun into recording the birds I’ve seen and heard while I’m out and about. The interface is user-friendly and suitable for all ages. It’s great to collect badges and to review my “lists”.
Tralisalandhoop
Fantastic app - Love it!
Love this app and have used it almost daily. Lots of species information and easy to use. Love seeing birds spotted by other users in the UK and worldwide.
Unbridled Discoveries
Great app for bird lovers
I love this app! It’s a wonderful way to track birding sessions, and also connect you with fellow birders. I also really like the unidentified bird section, it’s a great community tool to help figure out what a never-before-seen bird is!
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.