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20

Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis) Alternate name(s): "Golden-breasted Whistler", "Yellow-breasted Whistler", "Golden-breasted Thickhead", "Yellow-breasted Thickhead", "Thunderbird*", "Cutthroat", "Coachwhip-bird*" Aboriginal name(s): Race "pectoralis": "wiraynggun" [ngadjon] Size: 16-18 cm Weight: 25-35 g

Australia: Family Group 20 Family Group 20 Table Eastern Whipbird Chirruping Wedgebill Chiming Wedgebill Spotted Quail-thrush Cinnamon Quail-thrush Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush Varied Sittella Crested Bellbird Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit Northern (Crested) Shrike-tit Grey Whistler Olive Whistler Golden Whistler Western Whistler Mangrove Golden Whistler White-breasted Whistler Rufous Whistler Gilbert's Whistler Rufous Shrike-thrush Arafura Shrike-thrush (Little Shrike-thrush) Bower's Shrike-thrush Sandstone Shrike-thrush Grey Shrike-thrush Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Golden Whistlers are medium-sized whistlers. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are different. Male Golden Whistlers have a large white throat patch surrounded by a broad black chest band that connects to the equally black head plumage. The rest of the front, plus the sides, flanks and nape of the neck, are all yellow. The mantle is olive, the rump is olive-yellow, while the wing feathers are dark-grey with olive edge lining. The tail is dark-grey. Female Golden Whistlers have a light-grey front, with a throat patch that is a bit lighter than the rest of the front. The top of the head and the back are grey. The flight feathers are dark-grey, with some olive edge lining. The tail is olive-grey, becoming greyer towards the tip. The only yellow part of female Golden Whistlers is the vent. Both sexes have eyes with dark-brown irises. The bill, legs and feet are dark-grey. Juvenile Golden Whistlers resemble females, but they have much broader, more conspicuous brown edge lining on the wing feathers. Twitcher's tip Compared with Mangrove Golden Whistlers, Golden Whistlers are paler yellow.

Taxonomy, classification See Golden Whistler at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information DNA analysis has revealed that the Western Australian population of what was part of race "fuliginosa" of the Golden Whistler shows significant genetic differences to birds from further to the East (SA). Accordingly, they have now been given full species status as the Western Whistler, "Pachycephala occidentalis".

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Golden Whistler is available HERE . There are in total four races of Golden Whistlers in Australia, all of which are endemic - for details see a field guide. Altogether their range extends from Cape Melville, QLD, in the North, along the East coast and the Great Dividing Range, including the Australian Alps, all the way through eastern QLD, eastern NSW (in good years also most of inland NSW), VIC, Tasmania and the islands in Bass Strait, to southern SA, including Eyre peninsula and Kangaroo Island. There is also a population in the South-West corner of WA; the north-eastern boundary of their range is defined by a line from Carnarvon through Kalgoorlie to the South coast, near Esperance. There are also Golden Whistlers on Lord Howe Island. The range of nominate race "pectoralis" extends along the QLD coastline and ranges into NSW, to the Hunter River valley, Watagans NP and the NSW Central Coast. Race "youngi" is found from the NSW Central Coast and adjacent ranges (in good years also in inland NSW), into all of VIC. Race "fuliginosa" occupies the south-eastern corner of SA and Eyre peninsula. Race glaucura populates Tasmania and the smaller islands along Bass Strait. On Lord Howe Island race "contempta" is found. Golden Whistlers can be found in a variety of habitats, from rainforest to open forest, woodland, scrub and even mallee, with a preference for dense, low, vegetation (such as undergrowth).

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "pectoralis" Golden Whistlers, race "pectoralis", are much less common on the western side of the Great Dividing Range than they are in the East. They are also more uncommon than Rufous Whistlers, but can be found reliably in various locations in inland NSW. After a first sighting 20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, in 2003, it took us 3 years and a trip to the East coast to see another Golden Whistler, race "pectoralis", in May 2006 at Royal NP, South of Sydney, where they are common. Since then, there have been various sightings in the Narrabri area. The area where we now find them most reliably is at Mt. Kaputar NP and in Deriah Aboriginal Area, 30-40 km East of Narrabri. There we often observe pairs foraging through cypress pine scrub together. Several pairs were observed in this area in July/August 2008. They have been found by us in close proximity to their cousins, the Rufous Whistler. While found regularly in bushland, the first sighting of a Golden Whistler in open farmland, just 10 km further West at Eulah Creek, came only in April 2011. Seen again at Eulah Creek in June 2012. Golden Whistlers, race "pectoralis", were also seen by us in various locations in (near-)coastal southern and central QLD, such as e.g. Byfield NP and Mt. Walsh NP, in July 2009. Later also seen by us in many locations along the NSW North Coast. Various contributors report spotting Golden Whistlers, race "pectoralis", at Lamington NP, Gold Coast, QLD, regularly. M. Mearns reports spotting Golden Whistlers, race "pectoralis", at Bunya Mountains NP, QLD, in December 2015. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours found a Golden Whistler, race "pectoralis", at Lake Barrine, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, in October 2019. Another was spotted at Mareeba Wetlands, QLD, in December 2020. These, and M. Eaton's reports from Mt. Lewis NP in far-northern QLD, are birds at the northern end of their range. Race "youngi" R. Plumtree reports spotting Golden Whistlers, race "youngi", occasionally around Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC. In January 2016 a pair wasfound to be nesting there. Race "fuliginosa" R. Plumtree reports spotting Golden Whistlers, race "fuliginosa", along the Pinnaroo Road, SA, in September 2018 and at Bronzewing State Forest, near Patchewollock, VIC, in October 2019. Race "contempta" Golden Whistlers, race "contempta", were found by C. Kellenberg in large numbers on Lord Howe Island in July 2010. B. Hensen reports spotting race "contempta" on Lord Howe Island in November 2014. Race "glaucura" B. Hensen reports spotting a Golden Whistler, race "glaucura", on Bruny Island, TAS, and another at Peter Murrell Reserve, Kingston, TAS, in March 2016. In April 2021 M. Eaton found a Golden Whistler, race "glaucura", along the Queen Elizabeth Track, Bruny Island, TAS, and in St. Helens, TAS, in September 2021.

Photos

Race "pectoralis"

ADULT

MALE

Close-up frontal portrait of a male Golden Whistler drying its plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2017]

Close-up frontal view of a male Golden Whistler looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mareeba Wetlands, QLD, December 2020]

Close-up near-frontal view of a male Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, September 2023]

Near-frontal view of a male Golden Whistler looking towards the observer
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, April 2012]

Near-lateral view of a male Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Lake Barrine, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, October 2019]

Near-lateral view of a male Golden Whistler
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, October 2008]

Close-up lateral view of a male Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, September 2023]

Lateral view of a male Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[O'Reilly's Plateau, Lamington NP, Gold Coast, QLD, January 2020]

Lateral view of a singing male Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lamington NP, Gold Coast, QLD, October 2015]

Lateral view of a male Golden Whistler hiding in a Callistemon tree while drying its plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2017]

Lateral view of a male Golden Whistler

Near-dorsal view of a male Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, September 2023]

Near-dorsal view of a preening male Golden Whistler
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2017]

Dorsal view of a male Golden Whistler hiding in a Callistemon tree while drying its plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2017]

Lateral/ventral view of a male Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Regional Park, near Anstead, QLD, May 2019]

Male Golden Whistler (in bad light) launching itself from its perch

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Golden Whistler
[Porcupine Reserve, Gunnedah, NSW, August 2011]

Frontal view of a female Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, May 2018]

Near-frontal view of a female Golden Whistler; note how much darker this bird appears compared to others shown on this page
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, August 2008]

Close-up lateral view of a female Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, January 2021]

Close-up lateral view of a female Golden Whistler
[Limeburners Creek NP, NSW, October 2013]

Lateral view of a female Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hillview Court Reserve, Dayboro, QLD, May 2020]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a female Golden Whistler
[Limeburners Creek NP, NSW, October 2013]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a female Golden Whistler, showing the characteristic pale yellow undertail coverts
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)

Dorsal view of a female Golden Whistler looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, September 2023]

Dorsal view of a female Golden Whistler
[Bullawa Creek SCA, NSW, August 2013]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Young male Golden Whistler moulting into its adult plumage; the first yellow feathers have just developed
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, April 2009]

Frontal view of what is likely a young female Golden Whistler
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2011]

The same female Golden Whistler as above, now seen from underneath
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2011]

Lateral view of a juvenile Golden Whistler; this view shows all the characteristic features, namely the typical bill of a whistler, the absence of striation on the bird's front and the brown lining of the secondaries, which is characteristic of immature Golden Whistlers
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2017]

Near-dorsal view of an immature Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Regional Park, near Anstead, QLD, May 2019]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Golden Whistler; this view shows the brown lining of the secondaries, which is characteristic of immature Golden Whistlers
[Bullawa Creek SCA, NSW, June 2012]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Golden Whistler; note the pale bill
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2017]

Race "youngi"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Watts Creek Road, Ensay North, East Gippsland, VIC, March 2015]

Near-frontal view of a male Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2017]

Near-lateral view of a male Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Watts Creek Road, Ensay North, East Gippsland, VIC, March 2015]

Lateral view of a male Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Watts Creek Road, Ensay North, East Gippsland, VIC, March 2015]

Lateral view of a singing male Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay North, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2017]

Ventral view of a male Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Watts Creek Road, Ensay North, East Gippsland, VIC, March 2015]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a female Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Watts Creek Road, Ensay North, East Gippsland, VIC, March 2015]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Watts Creek Road, Ensay North, East Gippsland, VIC, March 2015]

Lateral view of a juvenile Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Watts Creek Road, Ensay North, East Gippsland, VIC, March 2015]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Watts Creek Road, Ensay North, East Gippsland, VIC, March 2015]

Race "fuliginosa"

ADULT

MALE

Lateral portrait of a male Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Bronzewing State Forest, near Patchewollock, VIC, October 2019]

Lateral view of a male Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Pinnaroo Road, SA, September 2018]

Lateral view of a male Golden Whistler issuing its call (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Pinnaroo Road, SA, September 2018]

FEMALE

Frontal portrait of a female Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Bronzewing State Forest, near Patchewollock, VIC, October 2019]

Near-lateral portrait of a female Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Bronzewing State Forest, near Patchewollock, VIC, October 2019]

Race "contempta"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lord Howe Island, November 2014]

Dorsal view of a male Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lord Howe Island, November 2014]

FEMALE

Near-dorsal view of a female Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lord Howe Island, November 2014]

Race "glaucura"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, March 2016]

Near-frontal view of a male Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Queen Elizabeth Track, Bruny Island, TAS, April 2021]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a male Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2021]

FEMALE

Near-frontal view of a female Golden Whistler taking a bath (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Queen Elizabeth Track, Bruny Island, TAS, April 2021]

Near-lateral view of a female Golden Whistler (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, Kingston, TAS, March 2016]

Near-lateral view of a female Golden Whistler taking a bath (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Queen Elizabeth Track, Bruny Island, TAS, April 2021]

Lateral view of a female Golden Whistler taking a bath (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Queen Elizabeth Track, Bruny Island, TAS, April 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a female Golden Whistler taking a bath (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Queen Elizabeth Track, Bruny Island, TAS, April 2021]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Jan

Eggs: 2

Incubation period: 14 - 17 days

Fledging age: ?

The breeding season of Golden Whistlers depends on geographical latitude. The period listed in the table above refers to the southern part of the continent. In the tropical North, they can breed almost any time of the year, with the possible exception of a short period around May-June.

Nest building: Female & male

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Twigs, root fibres, grass stems, dry leaves, dry ferns, webs

Height above ground: 0.5 - 6 m

Golden Whistler nests are often quite flimsy affairs that are very loosely woven and therefore partly translucent. Golden Whistlers are known to use an unusual variety of materials compared to other species.

Female Golden Whistler, race "youngi", departing, while the male is bringing a new delivery to the nest (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Wild Dog Creek Track, Mount Nunniong, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2016]

Male Golden Whistler on the edge of its nest (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Wild Dog Creek Track, Mount Nunniong, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2016]

Here the male Golden Whistler is seen sitting on its nest (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Wild Dog Creek Track, Mount Nunniong, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2016]

Male Golden Whistler feeding the chicks (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Wild Dog Creek Track, Mount Nunniong, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2016]

Female Golden Whistler feeding the chicks (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Wild Dog Creek Track, Mount Nunniong, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2016]

A close-up doral few of the feeding female Golden Whistler shows that its secondaries still have rufous tints, suggesting that this is a first-year bird that is still moulting into its adult plumage (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Wild Dog Creek Track, Mount Nunniong, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2016]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 23 x 17 mm

Colour: Creamy, with mid- to dark-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Partly migratory

Elementary unit: Pair

The male in the photos below was seen/heard calling his lady, using a call that was entirely different from anything we have heard whistlers use before.

Male Golden Whistler calling a female
[Near Narrabri, NSW, May 2012]

Here both male and female Golden Whistler on the point of takeoff
[Near Narrabri, NSW, May 2012]

Food, Diet

Like all other members of the Pachycephala family known to us, Golden Whistlers forage through trees for insects.

Lateral view of a male Golden Whistler with its prey, an insect (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Near Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2017]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

goldwhs_20200525_3.m4a	pectoralis (NW NSW)	Contact calls (male)	© MD
goldwhs_20200525.m4a	pectoralis (NW NSW)	Contact calls (male) + 1 territorial call	© MD
goldwhs_20200525_2.m4a	pectoralis (NW NSW)	Territorial calls (male)	© MD
goldwhs_20170810.m4a	pectoralis (NW NSW)	Territorial call (male)	© MD
goldwhs_20170810_2.m4a	pectoralis (NW NSW)	Territorial call (male)	© MD
goldwhs_20181024.m4a	pectoralis (NW NSW)	Territorial calls (males; Q&A)	© MD
goldwhs_me_20200927.m4a	pectoralis (N QLD)	Territorial calls (competing males)	© ME
goldwhs_art_20131125.m4a	pectoralis (SE QLD)	Pair Q&A	© ART
goldwhs_20190906.m4a	pectoralis (NW NSW)	"Babbling" while resting (male); "whispering calls"	© MD
goldwhs_20170530.m4a	pectoralis (NW NSW)	Immature foraging	© MD
goldwhs_20200529.m4a	pectoralis (NW NSW)	?	© MD
goldwhs_20140419.mp3	pectoralis (NW NSW)	? (Immature)	© MD
goldwhs_20140419_2.mp3	pectoralis (NW NSW)	? (Immature)	© MD

More Golden Whistler sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Tue, 19 September 2023, 7:02 +00:00