Western Whistler

Photo by Maroon Jay
Cheynes Beach, Western Australia, May 2016

Pachycephala occidentalis

Identification

16 - 19cm (6-7½ in).

• Black head, nape and band around upper breast
• White throat
• Yellow nape extending to breast and underparts
• Olive-green back
• Grey tail broadly tipped black
• Females have brown upperparts

Distribution

Southwestern Australia (southwestern Western Australia)
Common in most of its range.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.
Formerly included in Golden Whistler.

Habitat

Very varied in the type of forest and scrub habitat acceptable, from rainforest and mangrove to gardens to dry scrub.

Behaviour

Diet

Feeds mainly on insects and spiders.

Breeding

Breeding season is mainly August to January. The nest is a cup made of twigs, grass, plant stems and other material. It's usually placed around 3m above the ground. Lays 2 - 3 eggs. Brood parasitism by Pallid Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo and Brush Cuckoo reported.

Movements

A resident species.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. 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
3. Simpson, K and N Day. 1998. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-4877-5
4. Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2016. IOC World Bird Names (version 6.3). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Western Whistler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 26 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Western_Whistler

External Links

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