Pachycephala pectoralis
Golden Whistlers measure 16 - 17.5 cm. The adult male is bright yellow on the underside, olive-green on the back and wings, and black on the head with a bright yellow collar. The throat is white, separated from the yellow chest by a broad black band. The bill and legs are black. Females lack bright plumage. They are generally grey above, with a pale olive tinge, and paler grey below, with a buff wash. The bill is dark brown and the legs grey-brown. The eye is red-brown in adults of both sexes.
Young Golden Whistlers are rufous. As they mature, the plumage comes to resemble that of the female other than rufous edges to some wing feathers. These are later replaced as the bird matures.
The Golden Whistler's voice is strong, musical and varied. Songs include a "we-we-we-tu-whit", the last note be stronger and whip-like, and a rising "seep".
Male Golden Whistlers are not easily confused with other Australian bird species, with the exception of the Mangrove Golden Whistler, P. melanura. This species is somewhat brighter on the underparts, has a broader collar and a slightly shorter tail. The female Mangrove Golden Whistler has yellowish underparts.
The Golden Whistler can be found in almost any wooded habitat, from rainforest to mallee, but prefers the denser areas. Occasionally it visits parks and orchards. The distribution extends from northern Queensland, around coastal eastern and southern Australia, to the middle of Western Australia. It is also found in Tasmania. The birds mostly live in the same areas all year, but birds of the south-east move down from higher altitudes during the winter months. As well as Australia, the Golden Whistler is found in Indonesia, Fiji, New Guinea and the Solomons.
Golden Whistlers feed on insects, spiders and other small arthropods. Berries are also eaten. Feeding is usually done alone and most food is obtained from the lower or middle tree level, where it is picked from leaves and bark.
Golden Whistlers breed between September and January. Both male and female share the nest building duties. The nest is a shallow bowl, made of twigs, grass and bark, bound together with spider web and lined with finer grass. The nest is placed in a fork in a bush or tree up to 6 m above the ground. Only one brood is raised in a season and both sexes share the incubation of the two to three eggs, and care of the young. The eggs hatch about 15 days after they are laid and the young birds leave the nest after a further 12 days.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2003
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