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Mangrove Golden Whistler
(Pachycephala melanura)
: "Black-tailed Whistler", "Robust Whistler"
Size: 15-17 cm
Weight: 18-31 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Mangrove Golden Whistlers are medium-sized whistlers. Their
plumage is
dimorphic, i.e.
males and
females
are different.
Male
Mangrove 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 golden-yellow. The mantle is olive-green, the rump is
olive-yellow, while the wing feathers are dark-grey with olive
edge lining. The tail is dark-grey.
Female
Mangrove Golden Whistlers, race "melanura", have a light-grey
front, with a throat patch that is slightly barred and a bit lighter
than the rest of the front. They have inconspicuous light-grey
eye-rings. The top of the head and the back are brownish-grey. The
flight feathers are dark-grey, with some olive edge lining. The tail
is olive-grey. The only yellow parts of female Mangrove Golden
Whistlers, race "melanura", are the vent and undertail coverts.
Females of
race "robusta"
have a yellow front, from the chest to the undertail coverts.
Both sexes have eyes with dark-brown irises. The bill, legs and
feet are dark-grey.
Juveniles
resemble
females,
but they have much more rufous tints, rather than plain grey to
greyish-brown.
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Twitcher's tip |
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Compared with Mangrove
Golden Whistlers, they are brighter yellow.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Mangrove
Golden Whistler at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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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
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The global distribution of the Mangrove Golden Whistler is available
HERE
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Mangrove Golden Whistlers can be found in tropical northern
Australia, parts of New Guinea and on Latangai Island and
New Britain, islands in the Bismarck archipelago of Papua
New Guinea.
Mangrove Golden Whistlers populate a very narrow strip along the
tropical North coast of Australia.
Nominate race "melanura" occurs along the tropical coastline of
WA, from about the tropic of Capricorn to roughly the border
with the NT (with the exception of Eighty Mile Beach).
Farther East, all along the coastline of the NT and QLD, down to
the tropic of Capricorn, endemic race "robusta" is present.
Race "spinicauda" is found only on offshore islands along Torres Strait.
Mangrove Golden Whistlers have a preference for mangrove, dense vegetation
along coastal
creeks and rivers and other types of dense coastal forest.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "robusta"
B. Hensen reports spotting Mangrove Golden Whistlers, race
"robusta",
at Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, in July 2012 and again in November 2018.
P. Brown reports finding a Mangrove Golden Whistler, race
"robusta",
at Coconut Grove and Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, in March 2019.
M. Eaton found Mangrove Golden Whistlers, race
"robusta",
at East Point and Coconut Grove, Darwin, NT, in August 2020.
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Photos |
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Race "robusta"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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Lateral view of a male Mangrove Golden Whistler
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, November 2018]
Lateral/ventral view of a male Mangrove Golden Whistler
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, July 2012]
Near-dorsal view of a male Mangrove Golden Whistler
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, November 2018]
Dorsal view of a male Mangrove Golden Whistler
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Coconut Grove, Darwin, August 2020]
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FEMALE |
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Near-lateral view of a female Mangrove Golden Whistler
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, July 2012]
Lateral view of a female Mangrove Golden Whistler
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, November 2018]
Dorsal view of a female Mangrove Golden Whistler
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, March 2019]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
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Frontal view of an immature female(?) Mangrove Golden Whistler;
note the yellow vent
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, August 2020]
Near-lateral view of an immature female(?) Mangrove Golden Whistler
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, August 2020]
Lateral view of an immature female(?) Mangrove Golden Whistler
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, August 2020]
Near-dorsal view of an immature female(?) Mangrove Golden Whistler;
note the rufous edge lining on the wing feathers
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, August 2020]
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Call(s)/Song |
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For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own; are welcome.
More Mangrove Whistler sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
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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.