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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Pachycephalidae
  4. ›
  5. Pachycephala
  6. ›
  7. Grey Whistler
Grey Whistler
Photo · Meyer, 1874

BirdUp · Species

Grey Whistler

Pachycephala simplexGould, 1843

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Native
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Pachycephalidae
Genus
Pachycephala

At a glance

The Grey Whistler is a small bird, about 14–15 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
14–15 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Grey Whistler look like?

The Grey Whistler is a small bird, about 14–15 cm long and weighing 15–25 g.

The grey whistler or brown whistler, is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is found in northern Australia and New Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical mangrove forest.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
14–15 cm
Weight
15–24.8 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Grey Whistler?

The Grey Whistler is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

Donald Hobern · Cairns QLD, Australia

Call

Martin Rady · Kakadu, South Alligator, AU-NT, AU

Call

jimchurches · Barron Gorge QLD 4870, Australia

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Grey Whistler eat?

The Grey Whistler feeds on terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

5 photos

The BirdUp app

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Grey Whistler live in Australia?

The Grey Whistler is native to Australia, recorded across 18 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingSouth Moluccas, New Guinea and satellites, and north Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Non-breeding
  • Passage
  • Resident
  • Vagrant

7 regions recorded