{{Short description|Species of bird (Origma solitaria)}} {{speciesbox | name = Rockwarbler | image = Rockwarbler 0A2A8924.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 15 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Origma solitaria'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T22704516A93973568 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22704516A93973568.en |access-date=15 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Origma | species = solitaria | authority = (Lewin, 1808) | synonyms_ref = <ref name=afd>{{cite web|url=https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/Origma_solitaria |title=Species ''Origma solitaria'' (Lewin, 1808) |author=Australian Biological Resources Study|date=5 December 2014 |work=Australian Faunal Directory|publisher=Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Australian Government|access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref> | synonyms = ''Sylvia solitaria'', Lewin }}
The '''rockwarbler''' ('''''Origma solitaria'''''), is a bird in the family Acanthizidae.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Pizzey|first1=Graham|title=The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia|last2=Knight, Frank|publisher=HarperCollins|year=2007|isbn=978-0-207-19935-6|editor-last=Menkhorst|editor-first=Peter|edition=8th|location=Sydney}}</ref> It is the only bird species endemic to the mainland of the state of New South Wales in Australia.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Smith, Peter; Smith, Judy |year=2012 |title=Re-use of a Rockwarbler ''Origma solitaria'' nest over a 13-year period |journal=Australian Field Ornithology |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=77–82 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/290733038 }}</ref><ref>Lord Howe Island, which is politically and administratively part of New South Wales, has one additional endemic species and three endemic sub-species of birds.</ref>
== Taxonomy and systematics == The rockwarbler was described and illustrated in 1808 by the English artist and naturalist John Lewin under the binomial name ''Sylvia solitaria''.<ref name="afd" /><ref>{{ cite book | last=Lewin | first=John William | author-link=John Lewin | date=1808 | title=Birds of New Holland, with their natural history. Collected, engraved, and faithfully painted after nature | volume=1 | location=London | publisher=J. White and S. Bagster | page=20, plate 16 | url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1326995/view?partId=nla.obj-1349534#page/n59/mode/1up }}</ref> For many years it was the only member of the genus ''Origma'' until genetic work showed that it was related to two species of mousewarblers from New Guinea. The rockwarbler diverged from the common ancestor of the other two species around 9 million years ago.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Norman | first1=J.A. | last2=Christidis | first2=L. | last3=Schodde | first3=R. | year=2018 | title=Ecological and evolutionary diversification in the Australo-Papuan scrubwrens (''Sericornis'') and mouse-warblers (''Crateroscelis''), with a revision of the subfamily Sericornithinae (Aves: Passeriformes: Acanthizidae) | journal=Organisms Diversity & Evolution | volume=18 | issue=2 | pages=241–259 | doi=10.1007/s13127-018-0364-8 | bibcode=2018ODivE..18..241N | s2cid=46967802 | url=http://publication.plazi.org/id/FFA0CB039909FFC4FFA1FFC0FFECFFD0 }}</ref> Rockwarbler has been designated the official name by the International Ornithologists' Union (IOC).<ref name="ioc">{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | year=2019 | title=Bristlebirds, pardalotes, Australasian warblers | work=World Bird List Version 9.1 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/bristlebirds/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=21 January 2019 }}</ref> Common names also include cataract-bird, cave-bird, origma, rock-robin, and sandstone robin.<ref name="afd" /> A former common name, hanging dick, came about from its nest, which hangs suspended in a cave.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/rockwarbler | title=Rockwarbler | publisher=Birdlife Australia |access-date=7 June 2019}}</ref> It has no subspecies.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Gregory|first=P|date=March 2020|editor-last=del Hoyo|editor-first=J.|editor2-last=Elliott|editor2-first=A.|editor3-last=Sargatal|editor3-first=J.|editor4-last=Christie|editor4-first=D. A.|editor5-last=de Juana|editor5-first=E.|title=Rockwarbler (''Origma solitaria'') version 1.0|url=https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/rocwar1/cur/introduction|journal=Birds of the World|language=en|publisher=Cornell Lab of Ornithology|doi=10.2173/bow.rocwar1.01|s2cid=216273729|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
== Description == The rockwarbler is {{cvt|14|cm}} in length and weighs around {{cvt|14|g|1}}, with predominantly dark grey-brown plumage, darker wings and more red-brown underparts, cinnamon-tinged face and forehead, and whitish throat. Its tail is black.<ref name="BiB">{{cite web |title=Rockwarbler |url=http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Origma-solitaria |website=Birds in Backyards |publisher=Birdlife Australia |access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref> Adult males and females have similar plumage. Juveniles have duller and paler plumage than the adult, with a reddish tint to the throat, and a greyer chin. It can be distinguished from the pilotbird by its smaller size and head, white throat patch, and square tail.<ref name=":0" />
Its main call is a repeated shrill ''chis-sick'', given during the breeding season–though they may also give a ''tid-ed-dee''. Its contact call is rasping and smooth. The alarm call is similar to the contact call, but a single note. Its scold call is a chatter similar to that of scrubwrens. They are accomplished mimics, and will replicate the calls of numerous other birds, including scrubwrens, white-eared honeyeaters, grey butcherbirds, eastern spinebills, rufous whistlers and more.<ref name=":0" />
== Distribution and habitat == It is usually seen hopping erratically over rocks while flicking its tail. Its preferred habitat is woodland and gullies with exposed sandstone or limestone rocks, and often near water. Its distribution is central eastern New South Wales, within a {{cvt|240|km}} radius of Sydney. It has been affected adversely by human-modified habitat, and has declined in these areas.<ref name="BiB" /> Most of its range is protected in national parks, which has insulated the species from habitat loss. They generally do not migrate, except in very dry conditions.<ref name=":0" />
== Behavior and ecology == Rockwarblers may live alone, in pairs, or in family groups with as many as five members. They do not fly very far, though they are quite fast. Flights tend to be low to the ground. When not flying, they will flick their tail side-to-side.<ref name=":0" />
=== Breeding and nesting === Mated pairs maintain a territory, nesting in a sandstone cave.<ref name="BiB" /> The nest is a hanging structure made of grasses, roots, bark and moss, with spider web used as an adhesive. It has a dome-shaped entrance. Breeding season is from August to January. The female lays a clutch of three eggs, which take around 23 days to hatch.<ref name="BiB" /> Up to two clutches may be laid in a season.<ref name=":0" />
=== Diet === Rockwarblers are generally insectivores, but will supplement the diet with seeds. Insects are taken mostly on the ground, or in lower branches of vegetation. They may also hover in short bursts to catch prey. They are inquisitive and will investigate nooks and crannies in rocks, as well as under leaf litter. They are nimble, being able to move vertically up rock faces to probe rock features. Preferred insects are ants, wasps, and beetles, as well as butterfly and moth larvae. Panic grass and wheat are both acceptable grains. They will also take food left by humans, namely bread crumbs and butter.<ref name=":0" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== * del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors) (2006). ''Handbook of the Birds of the World''. Volume 12: ''Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees''. Lynx Edicions. {{ISBN|978-84-96553-42-2}}.
== External links == * {{Commonscatinline|Origma solitaria}} * {{Wikispecies inline|Origma solitaria}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1587691}}
Category:Birds described in 1808 Category:Birds of New South Wales Category:Endemic birds of Australia Category:Origma Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot