Australasian Robins

The Petroicidae family, often referred to as Australasian robins, is comprised of 51 species across 19 genera, exclusively found in Australasia, including New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, and numerous Pacific Islands up to Samoa. These birds, which include robins, scrub-robins, and flyrobins, are only distantly related to the European robin and were previously misclassified with flycatchers and whistlers before getting their own family. They have a compact shape, large head, short bill, and stand out for their perch-and-pounce hunting method. Their social structure typically involves long-term pair bonds and family groups, with some practicing cooperative breeding. The nests they construct are cup-shaped and well-camouflaged. Genetic studies have reassessed their classifications, resulting in 6 subfamilies and reorganizing some species. These robins are part of the infraorder Passerides, closely related to families like the Eupetidae and Chaetopidae, and diversify into subfamily classifications and species like the white-breasted robin and black-throated robin.