- Pachycephala philippinensis
Identification
15 - 16cm.
- Brownish-grey crown and brownish head (crown grey in apoensis)
- Olive-green upperparts, paler in some subspecies
- Olive-green tail
- White chin and throat with faint streaking
- Dull yellow underparts
- Washed grey olive upper breast in nominate, missing in other subspecies
Sexes similar. Juveniles have a rufous breast and belly
Distribution
Endemic to the Philippines.
Common but population decreasing in some areas.
Taxonomy
Seven subspecies recognized:
- P. p. fallax on Calayan, northern Philippines
- P. p. illex on Camiguin Norte, northern Philippines
- P. p. philippinensis on Luzon and Catanduanes, northern Philippines
- P. p. apoensis on Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Dinagat, Pujada and most of Mindanao
- P. p. boholensis on Bohol, south-central Philippines
- P. p. siquijorensis on Siquijor, south-central Philippines
- P. p. basilanica on western Mindanao and Basilan, southern Philippines
Forms a superspecies with Sulphur-bellied Whistler and Bornean Whistler.
Habitat
Moist lowland forests and montanes. Occurs from sea-level up to 1200m.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects.
Usually foraging in understorey but may also be seen higher up. Joins mixed-species flocks.
Breeding recorded in February and June. The nest is an open cup made of fine roots and leaves. It's placed in the understorey, at least 3m above the ground. Lays 2 - 3 eggs.
Resident 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) Yellow-bellied Whistler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 28 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Yellow-bellied_Whistler