Alternative name: Banda Sea Whistler
- Pachycephala macrorhyncha
Includes Babar Whistler, Moluccan Whistler (in part)
Identification
18-19 cm (7-7½ in)
- Olive-brown upperparts
- greyish crown
- Paler loral region
- Rufous rump
Distribution
Lesser Sundas and southern Moluccas
Taxonomy
Taxonomy uncertain: there are deep DNA divergences in this "species" and future taxonomy may elevate as many as 8 taxa from it. They include "Babar Whistler" (P. sharpei: from subspecies sharpei). Yellow-throated Whistler is sometimes regarded as conspecific with Golden Whistler.
Moluccan Whistler, P. macrorhyncha may be defined as subspecies macrorhyncha, pelengensis, clio, buruensis and fuscoflava with Black-chinned Whistler (P. mentalis: subspecies mentalis, tidorensis, obiensis). Yellow-throated Whistler therefore includes this taxon in part (see [6]).
Baliem Whistler has been included in this species.
Subspecies
Clements recognises the following subspecies [1]:
- P. m. pelengensis: Banggai Islands (Peleng and Banggai)
- P. m. clio: Sula Islands (Taliabu, Seho, Mangole and Sanana)
- P. m. buruensis: Buru (south Moluccas)
- P. m. macrorhyncha: South Moluccas (Ambon and Seram)
- P. m. fuscoflava: Tanimbar Islands (Larat and Yamdena)
- P. m. calliope: Eastern Lesser Sundas (Rote, Timor, Semau and Wetar)
- P. m. compar: Eastern Lesser Sundas (Leti and Moa)
- P. m. par: Romang (eastern Lesser Sundas)
- P. m. dammeriana: Damar (eastern Lesser Sundas)
- P. m. sharpei: "Babar Whistler". Babar (Lesser Sundas)
Subspecies dammeriana may be referred to Golden Whistler instead based on mitochondrial DNA affinities ([6]).
Eaton et al [6] include subspecies compar and par under Fawn-breasted Whistler, P. orpheus.
Many references now recognise subspecies arthuri (Wetar) as distinct from calliope. It is longer billed. Both this taxon and calliope may be included in Rusty-breasted Whistler ([6]).
Habitat
Primary and secondary forests, tall scrub and gardens. They sometimes visit mangroves.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds mainly on insects and spiders.
They mostly feed in the middle and lower storey.
Breeding
There is no real information. Though likely to be similar to that of Golden Whistler.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
- Dickinson, EC, ed. 2003. The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. 3rd ed., with updates to December 2007 (Corrigenda 7). Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0691117010
- Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2010. IOC World Bird Names (version 2.7). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved June 2018)
- Eaton, J.A.. van Balen, B. Brickle, N.W., B Rheindk F.E. (2021). Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago, Greater Sundas and Wallacea. Lynx Edicions. Barcelona. Second Edition
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Yellow-throated Whistler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 28 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Yellow-throated_Whistler
