From Opus

Golden Whistler
Photo by Mitcon

Variable Pitohui
Photo by Mehd Halaouate

Family: Pachycephalidae

[edit] Description

Whistlers and allies are found in from southeast Asia east to Australia and New Zealand. Most species occur in New Guinea.
Most species have a large rounded head. Their wings are short and broad and the rictal bristles are generally short. Many species have dull or drab colours in plumage, often with little patterning.
Many species of this family have a loud, whistling voice.
The Pitohuis are some of the few known toxic birds. Homobatrachotoxins (the same as in arrow-poison frogs from South America) are found in the feathers and skin. It's not clear if this evolved as protection against predators or against ectoparasites. The Hooded Pitohui is obviously the most toxic species.

[edit] Taxonomy

Pachycephalidae is a Family in the Order Passeriformes.

The two genera Eulacestoma and Falcunculus are sometimes considered to form their own family, Falcunculidae.
The Mohuas from New Zealand have been moved to this family recently. They probably should be placed in their own family.

With around 60 subspecies the Golden Whistler is one of the most complex example of geographical variations within the birds.

The Olive-flanked Whistler from Sulawesi has been included in this familiy in the past but is now moved to Hylocitreidae.

[edit] References

1. 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

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