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Western Whistler
(Pachycephala occidentalis)
Aboriginal name(s): "bedilmidong", "bedjemer"
Size: 16-18 cm
Weight: 25-35 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Western 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
Western 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
Western Whistlers is the vent.
Both sexes have eyes with dark-brown irises. The bill, legs and
feet are dark-grey.
Juvenile
Western Whistlers resemble females, but they have
much broader, more conspicuous brown edge lining on the wing
feathers.
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Twitcher's tip |
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Compared with
Mangrove Golden Whistlers, Western Whistlers are paler yellow.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See
Western 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".
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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 Western Whistler is available
HERE
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Western Whistlers are endemic to south-western Western Australia.
Their range spans (the entirety of) a roughly triangular area
from the WA/SA border in the East to just southward of Exmouth,
WA, in the North-west.
Western Whistlers can be found in
open forest,
woodland,
scrub
and even mallee,
with a preference for dense, low, vegetation (such as undergrowth).
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
C. Pears finds Western Whistlers regularly at Quindalup, WA.
J. Greaves reports spotting Western Whistlers at Manjimup, WA,
in March 2015.
M. Eaton reports finding Western Whistlers at Margaret River, WA,
in April 2019.
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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Frontal/ventral view of a male Western Whistler
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Manjimup, WA, March 2015]
Frontal view of a male Western Whistler looking backwards
while preening
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margaret River, WA, April 2015]
Near-lateral view of a male Western Whistler
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margaret River, WA, April 2015]
Near-lateral view of a male Western Whistler
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margaret River, WA, April 2015]
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FEMALE |
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Frontal view of a female (or juvenile?) Western Whistler; this is
a particularly dark specimen
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Manjimup, WA, March 2015]
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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 Western 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.