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. This bird is also known as White-Throated Thickhead in older books.[4]
| Australian golden whistler | |
|---|---|
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| Male | |
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| Female, Queensland, Australia | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Pachycephalidae |
| Genus: | Pachycephala |
| Species: | P. pectoralis
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| Binomial name | |
| Pachycephala pectoralis (Latham, 1801)
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| Subspecies | |
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See text | |
| Synonyms | |
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Taxonomy and systematics
editThe Australian golden whistler was originally described in the genus Muscicapa by the English ornithologist John Latham in 1801.[5]
Subspecies
editThe taxonomy of the golden whistler complex is difficult, and remains a matter of dispute.[6][7][8] 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).
Five remaining subspecies are recognized:[9]
- 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)
Some authorities also consider the following related species as subspecies of the Australian golden whistler:[6]
- Rusty-breasted (fulvous-tinted) whistler from south-western Wallacea, Bali and Java in Indonesia.
- Yellow-throated whistler from central and south-eastern Wallacea.
- Baliem whistler from west-central New Guinea.
- Black-chinned whistler from North Maluku in Indonesia.
- Bismarck whistler from the Bismarck and Louisiade Archipelagos in Papua New Guinea.
- Oriole whistler from the Solomons (except Santa Cruz Islands), and the islands of Bougainville and Buka in far eastern Papua New Guinea.
- Fiji whistler from central and northern islands in Fiji.
- White-throated whistler from southern islands in Fiji, and the central and northern Santa Cruz Islands in the Solomons.
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).[10] Historically even the New Caledonian, Tongan and Samoan whistler have been treated as subspecies of P. pectoralis.[10] Strong published evidence in favour of either treatment is limited, and further study is warranted to resolve the situation.[10]
Description
edit
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.[10]
Australian golden whistlers have a strong, musical voice.[2]
Distribution and habitat
editThe 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
editThis 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
editThe Australian golden whistler is considered to be of least concern,[1] and it is generally described as common to fairly common.[10]
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.[10] Most of the population is now restricted to the Norfolk Island National Park.[10] This has resulted in it being listed as vulnerable by the Australian Government.[11] Another island subspecies, the Lord Howe golden whistler (P. p. contempta) remains common,[10] but was listed as vulnerable by the Australian Government due to its small range.[12] It is not listed anymore.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b BirdLife International. (2024). "Pachycephala pectoralis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2024: e.T103693368A263821612. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ a b Ken Simpson; K. Day; N. Day (1994). Field Guide to the Birds of Australia (2nd ed.). Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-3930-X.
- ^ "Golden whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions. Retrieved Oct 19, 2016.
- ^ Mathews, Gregory M. (1910–1927). The birds of Australia. Vol. 8. London: Witherby.
- ^ Latham, John (1801). Supplementum indicis ornithologici sive systematis ornithologiae (in Latin). London: Leigh & Sotheby. p. li.
- ^ a b Clements, J. F. (2007). The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World (6th ed.). Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-0-7136-8695-1.
- ^ Gill, F; D Donsker, eds. (2016). "IOC World Bird List". v 6.3. doi:10.14344/IOC.ML.6.3. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ Dickinson, E. C., ed. (2003). The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World (3rd ed.). Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-6536-X.
- ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (August 2024). "Whiteheads, sittellas, Ploughbill, Australo-Papuan bellbirds, Shriketit, whistlers". IOC World Bird List Version 14.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Boles, W. E. (2007). del Hoyo, J.; A. Elliot; D. Christie (eds.). "Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis)". Birds of the World Online. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. pp. 421–423. ISBN 978-84-96553-42-2.
- ^ "Pachycephala pectoralis xanthoprocta — Golden Whistler (Norfolk Island)". Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
- ^ "List of Extinct, Threatened and Near Threatened Australian birds" (PDF). The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 5, 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
- ^ "List of Threatened Fauna". EPBC Act. DEWHA. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
External links
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