Alternative names: Timor Whistler; Sunda Whistler
- Pachycephala orpheus
Identification
14cm.
- Whitish-grey forehad, lores and supercilium
- Reddish-brown ear-coverts
- Grey crown
- Greenish olive-brown upperparts, dull yellow on rump and uppertail-coverts
- Brown tail washed with yellow
- White chin and throat
- Light buffy fawn breast, paler flanks and belly
- Yellow undertail-coverts
- Dark brown eye
- Black bill
Females are similar but have a less contrasting crown. Juveniles have some dark streaking on breast.
Distribution
Found on Wetar and Timor (Indonesia and Timor-Leste).
Quite common in its range.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Clements regards this as a monotypic species [1].
Reference [3] includes subspecies compar and par of Yellow-throated Whistler under this species.
The proposed subspecies wetterensis from Wetar is usually not recognized.
Habitat
Monsoon forest, scrub, secondary growth and locall mangroves. Found from sea-level up to 1200m.
Behaviour
Usually seen foraging in understory and middle storey.
Diet
Feeds on insects.
Breeding
Juveniles seen in July and December. No other information about breeding.
Movement
A resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- 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
- 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. (2025) Fawn-breasted Whistler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 6 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Fawn-breasted_Whistler
