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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Psophodidae
  4. ›
  5. Psophodes
  6. ›
  7. Western Whipbird
Western Whipbird
Photo · Wikimedia Commons

BirdUp · Species

Western Whipbird

Psophodes nigrogularisGould, 1844

Updated 11 June 2026

Conservation status: EndangeredOrigin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Psophodidae
Genus
Psophodes

At a glance

The Western Whipbird is a medium-sized bird, about 19–26 cm long, listed as Endangered and endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
19–26 cm
Conservation status
Endangered
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Rare
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Western Whipbird look like?

The Western Whipbird is a medium-sized bird, about 19–26 cm long.

The western whipbird is a passerine bird found in several scattered populations in Southwest Australia. It is predominantly olive green in colour. The western whipbird has sometimes been split into two species: the black-throated whipbird and the white-bellied whipbird.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
19–26 cm
Wingspan
23 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Western Whipbird?

The Western Whipbird 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

jimchurches · Needilup WA 6336, Australia

Call

Thomas Mesaglio · Arpenteur Nature Reserve, Western Australia

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Western Whipbird eat?

The Western Whipbird feeds on terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Western Whipbird live in Australia?

The Western Whipbird is endemic to Australia, recorded across 13 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingSouth-western Australia (Two Peoples Bay to Fitzgerald River region).

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Breeding
  • Resident
  • Vagrant

6 regions recorded