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Olive Whistler
(Pachycephala olivacea)
: "Olivaceous Whistler", "Olive Thickhead"; misnomer: "Native Thrush"
Size: 20-22 cm
Weight: 35-45 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Olive Whistlers are large whistlers. Their
plumage is
dimorphic, i.e.
males and
females
are slightly different.
There are small colour differences between the various races.
Male
Olive Whistlers have a dark-grey head down to the level
of the lower mandible of the bill. The throat is whitish,
with grey barring, below which there is a grey breast band
and a buff-brown belly, vent and undertail coverts.
The back is grey-brown with an olive tinge. The flight
feathers are more dark-grey.
Female
Olive Whistlers have no barring on their throat and
a more brownish head.
Juveniles
are more rufous-brown than
adults
and have a brownish bill.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Olive
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 based
on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Olive Whistler is available
HERE
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Olive Whistlers are endemic to Australia.
They are found only in the south-eastern corner of the Australian
continent and in Tasmania.
The range of nominate race "olivacea" extends
from just to the North of Melbourne, VIC, eastward through the
ranges and to the South-East coast, up to Woollongong, NSW.
Further North they are found only in the Great Dividing Range,
up to about
Watagans NP, NSW.
The western boundary of their range is near Canberra, ACT.
Further North in the Great Dividing Range, from Barrington Tops NP in NSW
to the NSW/QLD border, race "macphersoniana" is found.
Race "bathychroa" populates only two small areas on the VIC coast,
near Wilson's Promontory and around Cape Otway.
Race "apatetes" occurs in Tasmania and the smaller islands along Bass Strait.
Race "hesperus" is present along the coast either side of the
VIC/SA border, from about Portland, VIC, to Carpenter Rocks, SA.
Olive Whistlers have a preference for tall, wet forest, but are also found in
alpine
heath.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "olivacea"
R. Plumtree reports
spotting an Olive Whistler, race "olivacea", by the side
of Doctors Flat Road, Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, in May 2014.
The species was seen in the same area in March 2017 and another
at Mt. Nunniong, VIC, in November 2017.
All sighting and photographic information on this page has kindly
been contributed by R. Plumtree.
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Photos |
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Race "olivacea"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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Frontal view of a male Olive Whistler issuing its call
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Plain Creek, Nunniong Plains, Mt. Nunniong, VIC, November 2017]
Near-frontal view of a male Olive Whistler
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Plain Creek, Nunniong Plains, Mt. Nunniong, VIC, November 2017]
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FEMALE |
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Near-lateral view of a female Olive Whistler (photo
courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, March 2017]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
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Lateral view of a juvenile Olive Whistler (photo
courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Doctors Flat Road, Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, May 2014]
Lateral view of a juvenile Olive Whistler, different posture
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Doctors Flat Road, Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, May 2014]
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.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
