Alternative names: Red-throated Whistler; Buff-breasted Whistler; Red-lored Thickhead
- Pachycephala rufogularis
Identification
19 - 22cm
- Brownish-grey upperparts
- Orange lores, chin and throat
- Grey breast
- Orange-buff abdomen
- Red eye
- Black bill
Female is similar but paler overall. Juveniles have paler bills and lores.
Similar species
Similar to Gilbert's Whistler but the latter with dark grey lores and greyer underparts.
Distribution
Endemic to southeast Australia.
Restricted-range species with may be fewer than 10'000 adult birds left. Suffers from habitat loss.
Taxonomy
Monotypic.
Sometimes placed in genus Timixos.
Habitat
Mallee woodland and low shrubland.
Behaviour
Feeds mainly on insects, takes also some fruit and seeds.
Forages low or on the ground.
Breeding season from September to October. Both sexes build a compact nest close to the ground and 2-3 eggs are laid.
Mostly sedentary with some minor movements.
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
- Simpson, K and N Day. 1998. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-4877-5
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Red-lored Whistler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 7 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Red-lored_Whistler
