- Pachycephala homeyeri
Includes: Sulu Whistler
Identification
16 - 17cm.
- upperparts rufous-brown
- head slightly darker
- tail reddish-brown
- chin, throat white
- upper breast white washed with cinnamon
- lower breast and belly white
- flanks and breast side cinnamon
- bill black
Sexes alike. Juveniles have rufous edgings on wing-coverts and rectrices.
Distribution
Found in the southern Philippines and on the Malayan island of Siamil. Locally common.
Taxonomy
Forms a superspecies with Mangrove Whistler, Green-backed Whistler and Island Whistler and is sometimes considered conspecific with the first two.
Reference [4] suggests subspecies homeyeri perhaps warrants species status as "Sulu Whistler", P. homeyeri on the basis of vocal and plumage differences.
Subspecies
Clements recognises the following subspecies [1]:
- P. h. winchelli: west-central Philippines from Tablas to Sibuyan, Masate, Ticao, Panay, Gigantes and Pan de Azucar to Negros
- P. h. major: Cebu
- P. h. homeyeri: "Sulu Whistler". Mindanao, Sulu Islands, Sanga Sanga, Bongao, Sipangkot, Sibutu, Simunul and Siamil (which belongs to Malaysia)
Habitat
Moist lowland forests and montanes. Occurs from sea-level to 2000m.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects.
Sometimes seen in mixed flocks with other species.
Breeding recorded in September. No information about nest or clutch size.
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
- Avibase
- Eaton, JA, B van Balen, NW Brickle, FE Rheindt 2021. Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago (Greater Sundas and Wallacea), Second Edition. Lynx Editions. ISBN978-84-16728-44-2
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) White-vented Whistler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/White-vented_Whistler
