- Pachycephala albiventris
Identification
16cm.
- Dull olive-green crown and mantle
- Bright olive-yellow on rump and uppertail-coverts
- Olive-grey face and ear-coverts
- Olive-yellow tail
- Whitish grey chin and throat with faint grey streaks
- Pale brownish-grey breast
- White belly
- Yellowish undertail-coverts
- Dark brown eye
- Black bill
Sexes alike, juveniles have dark brown upperparts.
Similar species
Similar to Mangrove Whistler but note grey breast and more yellowish in plumage. No range overlap.
Distribution
Endemic to south-east Asia: found in the northern Philippines (Luzon and Mindoro).
Common or even abundant at some sites.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Three subspecies recognized[2]:
- P. a. albiventris on north Luzon
- P. a. crissalis in central and south Luzon
- P. a. mindorensis on Mindoro
Other authorities treat this species as monotypic.[1]
Forms a superspecies with Mangrove Whistler, White-vented Whistler and Island Whistler and is sometimes considered conspecific with the first two.
Habitat
Forests, found up to 2000m.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on insects.
Forages from canopy to understorey. Joins sometimes bird-waves.
Breeding
Breeding season variable. No information about nest or clutch size.
Movements
Probably a sedentary species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- 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
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Green-backed Whistler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Green-backed_Whistler