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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Pachycephalidae
  4. ›
  5. Pachycephala
  6. ›
  7. Western Whistler

BirdUp · Species

Western Whistler

Pachycephala fuliginosaVigors & Horsfield, 1827

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Pachycephalidae
Genus
Pachycephala

At a glance

The Western Whistler is a small bird, about 16–18 cm long, listed as Least Concern and endemic to Australia.

Size
16–18 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Endemic
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • Behaviour

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Western Whistler look like?

The Western Whistler is a small bird, about 16–18 cm long and weighing 21–28 g, identified by its black head & complete breast-band (male), bright lemon-yellow belly (male), olive-grey back and rump (male) and plain olive-grey plumage (female).

The Western Whistler is a species of passerine bird in the family Pachycephalidae. Endemic to southern Australia, it was formerly treated as a subspecies of the Golden Whistler. It inhabits mallee, eucalypt woodlands, and coastal scrub. Males have a white throat, black breast band, and yellow underparts, while females are generally olive-grey.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

  1. 01

    Black head & complete breast-band (male)

    Solid black head, nape, and broad breast-band, sharply contrasting with the pure white throat.

  2. 02

    Bright lemon-yellow belly (male)

    Uniform, bright lemon-yellow plumage extending from below the black breast-band to the vent.

  3. 03

    Olive-grey back and rump (male)

    Plain olive-grey plumage on the back and rump, lacking any green tones.

  4. 04

    Plain olive-grey plumage (female)

    Lacks male's bright colours; overall uniformly drab olive-grey over the body, often with a paler throat.

Field specs

Length
16–18 cm
Weight
21–28 g
Wingspan
26 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

Field tips

behaviour

  • Watch for a 'freeze-and-scan' posture, where the bird sits motionless and upright on a branch for long periods, slowly turning its head to look for movement.

plumage

  • Look for the male's brilliant white throat patch, which is cleanly separated from the yellow belly by a distinct, broad black breast band.
  • Females and immature birds are predominantly brownish-grey with subtle buff edges to the wing feathers and a pale yellowish wash on the undertail coverts.

size_and_shape

  • Note the bird's 'bull-headed' silhouette, characterized by a large, rounded head and a thick, robust black bill with a slight hook at the tip.

voice

  • Listen for a series of clear, ringing whistles that steadily increase in volume and tempo, ending in a sharp, explosive 'whip-crack' note.

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Western Whistler eat?

The Western Whistler feeds on insects, spiders and and occasionally small fruits or berries., usually foraging in foliage-gleaning.

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Western Whistler live in Australia?

The Western Whistler is endemic to Australia, with a core range spanning south-west and south-central Australia.

Breeding range
South-west and south-central Australia