Alternative names: Rufous-breasted Whistler; Rusty-breasted Whistler; Brownish Whistler; Red-bellied Robin-whistler
- Pachycephala hyperythra
Identification
15cm.
- Dark slaty grey forehead, lores and crown
- Dusky brown ear-coverts
- Warm olive-brown upperparts with dusky upperwings
- White chin, throat and malar region
- Light rufous underparts
- Dark brown iris
- Black bill
Sexes alike, juveniles have rufous plumage.
Distribution
Endemic to New Guinea.
Locally common.
Taxonomy
Four subspecies recognized:
- P. h. hyperythra in the mountains of northwest, west and east-central New Guinea
- P. h. sepikiana in north New Guinea
- P. h. reichenowi on Huon Peninsula in northeast New Guinea
- P. h. salvadorii in southeast New Guinea
Habitat
Forest, mainly at 400 - 1200m. Replaced by Grey Whistler in the lowlands and by Sclater's Whistler higher up but with overlap.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects. Forages mainly in lower storey and undergrowth.
Breeding recorded in November. The nest is a large cup made of ferns, tendrils and moss. Lays 2 eggs.
Probably a sedentary species.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- 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
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Rusty Whistler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Rusty_Whistler
