Black-cheeked robin
The ashy robin (Heteromyias albispecularis ), also known as the black-cheeked robin, is a species of bird in the family Petroicidae native to New Guinea.
Measuring 15 to 18 cm (5.9 to 7.1 in), the ashy robin is a large and solidly built robin. It has a sooty black head and cheeks, with a white stripe extending backwards and upwards from the eyes. It has a white throat darkening to buff underparts and olive-brown upperparts. There is a white patch on the otherwise dark-plumaged wing. The bill is grey-black, the eyes are dark brown, and the legs pale pink.
The ashy robin is found across the mountain ranges of New Guinea (in both West Papua and Papua New Guinea) from 1,400 to 2,600 m (4,600 to 8,500 ft). Within the rainforest it is found singly or occasionally in pairs in the understory or on the ground.
It is insectivorous, and hunts by gleaning or snatching, often on the ground. Among its prey are ants, beetles, phasmids, centipedes, and earthworms.
The nest is a shallow cup made of bark, grass, twigs, and dry leaves. Spider webs are used for binding or filling. The nest is generally placed in cover 1–3 m (3.3–9.8 ft) above the ground. The clutch consists of a single cream- or olive-white egg, marked with light brown or mauve splotches and spots, usually concentrated around the large end. The egg measures 24 by 20 mm in size.
