Australian golden whistler

The Australian golden whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis) or golden whistler, is a species of bird found in forest, woodland, mallee, mangrove and scrub in Australia (except the interior and most of the north)[2] Most populations are resident, but some in south-eastern Australia migrate north during the winter. Its taxonomy is highly complex and remains a matter of dispute, with some authorities including as many as 59 subspecies of the golden whistler (one of the highest numbers of subspecies in any bird),[3] while others treat several of these as separate species.

Australian golden whistler
Male
Female, Queensland, Australia

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pachycephalidae
Genus: Pachycephala
Species:
P. pectoralis
Binomial name
Pachycephala pectoralis
(Latham, 1801)
Subspecies

See text

Synonyms
  • Muscicapa pectoralis
  • Pachycephala gutturalis

Taxonomy and systematics

The Australian golden whistler was originally described in the genus Muscicapa by the English ornithologist John Latham in 1801.[4]

Subspecies

The taxonomy of the golden whistler complex is difficult, and remains a matter of dispute.[5][6][7] Some authorities include a wide range of – often strikingly different – taxa from Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji as subspecies of P. pectoralis, in which case the combined species simply is known as the golden whistler (a common name sometimes also used exclusively for the Australian species).

Presently, six remaining subspecies are recognized:[8]

  • P. p. pectoralis - (Latham, 1801): Found in eastern Australia
  • Norfolk golden whistler (P. p. xanthoprocta) - Gould, 1838: Originally described as a separate species. Found on Norfolk Island (Australia).
  • Lord Howe golden whistler (P. p. contempta) - Hartert, 1898: Originally described as a separate species. Found on Lord Howe Island (Australia).
  • P. p. youngi - Mathews, 1912: Found in south-eastern Australia
  • P. p. glaucura - Gould, 1845: Originally described as a separate species. Found in Tasmania and the Bass Strait Islands (Australia)
  • P. p. fuliginosa - Vigors & Horsfield, 1827: Originally described as a separate species. Found in south-central Australia

Some authorities also consider the following related species as subspecies of the Australian golden whistler:[5]

Additionally, all except the nominate subspecies of the Melanesian whistler are sometimes included as subspecies of P. pectoralis (in which case P. caledonica is known as the New Caledonian whistler).[9] Historically even the New Caledonian, Tongan and Samoan whistler have been treated as subspecies of P. pectoralis.[9] Strong published evidence in favour of either treatment is limited, and further study is warranted to resolve the situation.[9]

Description
Male, Queensland, Australia
A juvenile Australian golden whistler
Male Golden whistler singing, Mallacoota, Australia

The male has a bright yellow underside and nape, olive-green back and wings, a black head and chest-band, and a white throat. A notable exception is the Norfolk golden whistler (P. p. xanthoprocta) where the plumage of the male is female-like. In Australia females are overall dull brownish-grey, though some have yellowish undertail coverts. Both sexes have a black bill, dark legs and red-brown eyes.[9]

Australian golden whistlers have a strong, musical voice.[2]

Distribution and habitat

The Australian golden whistler can be found in almost any wooded habitat, especially dense forests. It eats berries, insects, spiders, and other small arthropods. They usually feed alone and obtain food from the lower to middle tree level, or they may alternatively take part in mixed-species feeding flocks.

Behaviour

This species breeds between September and January. Male and female both work on the nest, which is a shallow bowl made of twigs, grass, and bark, and bound together with spider web. Only one brood is raised per season and both birds share incubation and care of young. Eggs hatch 15 days after they are laid and the young leave the nest after 12 days.

Status

The Australian golden whistler is considered to be of least concern,[1] and it is generally described as common to fairly common.[9]

The Norfolk golden whistler (P. p. xanthoprocta) declined for many years due to habitat loss and fragmentation and possibly also due to introduced predators such as the black rat.[9] Most of the population is now restricted to the Norfolk Island National Park.[9] This has resulted in it being listed as vulnerable by the Australian Government.[10] Another island subspecies, the Lord Howe golden whistler (P. p. contempta) remains common,[9] but was listed as vulnerable by the Australian Government due to its small range.[11] It is not listed anymore.[12]


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References
  1. BirdLife International (2017). "Pachycephala pectoralis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T103693368A118692098. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T103693368A118692098.en.
  2. Ken Simpson, K., & N. Day. (1994). Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. 2nd edition. Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-3930-X.
  3. "Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive". Retrieved Oct 19, 2016.
  4. Latham, John (1801). Supplementum indicis ornithologici sive systematis ornithologiae (in Latin). London: Leigh & Sotheby. p. li.
  5. Clements, J. F. (2007). The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World. 6th edition. ISBN 978-0-7136-8695-1.
  6. Gill, F & D Donsker (Eds). 2016. IOC World Bird List (v 6.3). doi : 10.14344/IOC.ML.6.3. Accessed 19 October 2016.
  7. Dickinson, E. C. Eds. (2003). The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. 3rd edition. Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-6536-X.
  8. "IOC World Bird List 6.3". IOC World Bird List Datasets. doi:10.14344/ioc.ml.6.3.
  9. Boles, W. E. (2007). Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis). Pp. 421–423 in: del Hoyo, J., A. Elliot, & D. Christie. Eds. (2007). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 978-84-96553-42-2
  10. Pachycephala pectoralis xanthoprocta — Golden Whistler (Norfolk Island). Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Accessed 10 February 2010.
  11. List of Extinct, Threatened and Near Threatened Australian birds. Archived October 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000. Accessed 10 February 2010.
  12. EPBC Act: List of Threatened Fauna. DEWHA. Accessed 10 February 2010.
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