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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Pachycephalidae
  4. ›
  5. Pachycephala
  6. ›
  7. Red-lored Whistler
Red-lored Whistler
Photo · Gould, 1841

BirdUp · Species

Red-lored Whistler

Pachycephala rufogularisGould, 1841

Updated 21 March 2026

Conservation status: VulnerableOrigin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Pachycephalidae
Genus
Pachycephala

At a glance

The Red-lored Whistler is a medium-sized bird, about 19–22 cm long, listed as Vulnerable and endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
19–22 cm
Conservation status
Vulnerable
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Rare
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Red-lored Whistler look like?

The Red-lored Whistler is a medium-sized bird, about 19–22 cm long and weighing 34–40 g.

The red-lored whistler is one of nine species of whistler occurring in Australia and a member of the family Pachycephalidae which includes whistlers, shrike-thrushes, pitohuis and allies. The limited range of this endemic bird of the Mallee woodland in one small area in New South Wales and another, larger area encompassing north-western Victoria and adjacent South Australia has seen it listed nationally as vulnerable.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
19–22 cm
Weight
34–40 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Red-lored Whistler?

The Red-lored 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

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Red-lored Whistler eat?

The Red-lored Whistler feeds on terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

3 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Red-lored Whistler live in Australia?

The Red-lored Whistler is endemic to Australia, recorded across 8 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingPatchy in south-east SA, north-west VIC and west-central NSW (south-east Australia)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Breeding
  • Vagrant

6 regions recorded