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Difference between revisions of "Golden Whistler" - BirdForum Opus

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;[[:Category:Pachycephala|Pachycephala]] pectoralis
 
;[[:Category:Pachycephala|Pachycephala]] pectoralis
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
−
16 - 19cm. A very variable Whistler with many different subspecies which differ greatly in plumage.
+
16 - 19cm.
−
* [[Australia]]:
 
 
[[Image:P1990079.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female ''P. p. pectoralis''<br />Photo by {{user|Rose+Fletcher|Rose Fletcher}}<br />Nangawooka Flora Reserve, Victor Harbor, [[South Australia]], April 2008 ]]
 
[[Image:P1990079.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female ''P. p. pectoralis''<br />Photo by {{user|Rose+Fletcher|Rose Fletcher}}<br />Nangawooka Flora Reserve, Victor Harbor, [[South Australia]], April 2008 ]]
−
** Black head, nape and band around upper breast
+
* Black head, nape and band around upper breast
−
** White throat
+
* White throat
−
** Yellow nape extending to breast and underparts
+
* Yellow nape extending to breast and underparts
−
** Olive-green back
+
* Olive-green back
−
** Females have brownish-grey upperparts
+
* Females have brownish-grey upperparts
−
** Similar to [[Black-tailed Whistler]] from northern [[Australia]] but note black tail in latter
+
* ''xanthoprocta'' with brownish-grey head, chin, throat and upperparts and only slightly yellow on underparts
−
* [[Indonesia]]
+
* Similar to [[Black-tailed Whistler]] from northern [[Australia]] but note black tail in latter
−
** Most subspecies with orange-wash on underparts
 
−
** ''Everetti'' with almost black wings
 
−
* Pacific Islands (only some variations):
 
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** ''Sanfordi'' with yellow throat and entirely yellow underparts. Female with fine streaking on underparts
 
−
** ''Christophori'' with dark olive-green head and broad black on breast
 
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** ''Melanoptera'' with yellow throat and narrow black band on breast
 
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** ''Littayei'' with orange underparts, female orange-yellow too
 
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** ''Ornata'' with black nape and yellow on wings
 
 
[[Image:Xanthoprocta.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Male ''P. p. xanthoprocta''<br />Photo by {{user|OzV|OzV}}<br />Mount Pitt, [[Norfolk Island]], June 2005 ]]
 
[[Image:Xanthoprocta.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Male ''P. p. xanthoprocta''<br />Photo by {{user|OzV|OzV}}<br />Mount Pitt, [[Norfolk Island]], June 2005 ]]
−
** ''Fuscoflava'' with thick black bill, yellow throat and big head
 
−
** ''Melanonota'' with almost black upperparts, yellow throat, broad black band and blackish half-moon on belly
 
−
** ''Xanthoprocta'' with brownish-grey head, chin, throat and upperparts and only slightly yellow on underparts
 
  
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
−
[[Indonesia]] and parts of [[Australasia]] (details under Taxonomy).<br />
+
[[Australia]] and [[New Guinea]].<br />
−
Common in most of its range. Some subspecies have a very small range.
+
Common in most of its range.
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
−
 
 
====Subspecies====
 
====Subspecies====
 
[[Image:1421MG 8011bjz.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Immature male (rufous on wings}<br />Photo by {{user|julien|julien}}<br />Eagle Point, Gippsland Lakes, [[Victoria]], [[Australia]], March 2006]]
 
[[Image:1421MG 8011bjz.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Immature male (rufous on wings}<br />Photo by {{user|julien|julien}}<br />Eagle Point, Gippsland Lakes, [[Victoria]], [[Australia]], March 2006]]
−
*''P. p. obiensis'': South Moluccas (Obi and Bisa)
+
*''P. p. balim'': Northern [[New Guinea]] (Ballim and Bele valleys)
−
*''P. p. fergussonis'': Fergusson I. (D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago)
 
 
*''P. p. pectoralis'': Eastern [[Australia]] (Cooktown, [[Queensland]] to Hunter River, [[New South Wales]]
 
*''P. p. pectoralis'': Eastern [[Australia]] (Cooktown, [[Queensland]] to Hunter River, [[New South Wales]]
 
*''P. p. youngi'': South Eastern [[Australia]] (central New South Wales to south-western [[Victoria]])   
 
*''P. p. youngi'': South Eastern [[Australia]] (central New South Wales to south-western [[Victoria]])   
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*''P. p. xanthoprocta'': Norfolk I.
 
*''P. p. xanthoprocta'': Norfolk I.
 
====Discussion====
 
====Discussion====
−
A complex example of geographical variation. Has been considered conspecific with some other Whistlers, especially with [[Black-tailed Whistler]], [[Tongan Whistler]], [[New Caledonian Whistler]], [[White-throated Whistler]], [[Oriole Whistler]], [[Fulvous-tinted Whistler]], [[Black-chinned Whistler]], [[Bismarck Whistler]] and [[Banda Sea Whistler]]. <br />
+
Has been considered conspecific with some other Whistlers, especially with [[Black-tailed Whistler]], [[Tongan Whistler]], [[New Caledonian Whistler]], [[White-throated Whistler]], [[Oriole Whistler]], [[Fulvous-tinted Whistler]], [[Black-chinned Whistler]], [[Bismarck Whistler]] and [[Banda Sea Whistler]]. <br />
 
Norfolk Island Whistler (''P. p. xanthoprocta'') has been proposed as a full species and other subspecies have been included in other species.
 
Norfolk Island Whistler (''P. p. xanthoprocta'') has been proposed as a full species and other subspecies have been included in other species.
  

Revision as of 18:03, 29 May 2014

Alternative name: Australian Golden Whistler

Male P. p. pectoralis
Photo by Mitcon
Adelaide, South Australia
Pachycephala pectoralis

Identification

16 - 19cm.

Female P. p. pectoralis
Photo by Rose Fletcher
Nangawooka Flora Reserve, Victor Harbor, South Australia, April 2008
  • Black head, nape and band around upper breast
  • White throat
  • Yellow nape extending to breast and underparts
  • Olive-green back
  • Females have brownish-grey upperparts
  • xanthoprocta with brownish-grey head, chin, throat and upperparts and only slightly yellow on underparts
  • Similar to Black-tailed Whistler from northern Australia but note black tail in latter
Male P. p. xanthoprocta
Photo by OzV
Mount Pitt, Norfolk Island, June 2005

Distribution

Australia and New Guinea.
Common in most of its range.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

Immature male (rufous on wings}
Photo by julien
Eagle Point, Gippsland Lakes, Victoria, Australia, March 2006

Discussion

Has been considered conspecific with some other Whistlers, especially with Black-tailed Whistler, Tongan Whistler, New Caledonian Whistler, White-throated Whistler, Oriole Whistler, Fulvous-tinted Whistler, Black-chinned Whistler, Bismarck Whistler and Banda Sea Whistler.
Norfolk Island Whistler (P. p. xanthoprocta) has been proposed as a full species and other subspecies have been included in other species.

Habitat

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

Behaviour

Feeds mainly on insects and spiders.
In Australia, 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.
Resident species. Some Australian populations known to make altitudinal movements.

References

  1. 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.
  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

Recommended Citation

External Links

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