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White-breasted WhistlerAlternate name(s): "White-bellied Whistler", "White-bellied Thickhead" Size: 19-21 cm Weight: 34-48 g |
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Similar |
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Photos |
Race "fretorum"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Frontal view of a male White-breasted Whistler
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Coconut Grove, Darwin, NT, July 2020]
Frontal view of a male White-breasted Whistler looking sideways
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Coconut Grove, Darwin, NT, July 2020]
Frontal view of a male White-breasted Whistler looking backwards
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Coconut Grove, Darwin, NT, July 2020]
Lateral view of a male White-breasted Whistler; this bird was
elusive and hard to photograph (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Kulaluk, Darwin, NT, March 2013]
Dorsal view of a male White-breasted Whistler
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Coconut Grove, Darwin, NT, August 2020]
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FEMALE |
Near-frontal view of a female White-breasted Whistler;
note the dark bill (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Coconut Grove, Darwin, NT, July 2020]
Lateral view of a female White-breasted Whistler looking
towards the observer (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Kulaluk, Darwin, NT, March 2013]
Close-up lateral view of a female White-breasted Whistler
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Coconut Grove, Darwin, NT, August 2020]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Lateral view of a juvenile White-breasted Whistler looking
at the observer; note the pale bill
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Coconut Grove, Darwin, NT, July 2020]
Lateral view of a juvenile White-breasted Whistler
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Coconut Grove, Darwin, NT, July 2020]
Lateral view of a juvenile White-breasted Whistler
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Coconut Grove, Darwin, NT, August 2020]
Lateral view of a juvenile White-breasted Whistler, now
aware of the observer
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Coconut Grove, Darwin, NT, August 2020]
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Mar - Nov | Eggs: 1 - 2 | Incubation period: 15-16 days | Fledging age: ca. 16 days |
Given the right conditions, White-breasted Whistlers can breed at any time of the year.
Nest building: Female | Incubation: Female | Dependent care: Female & male |
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
Type: Hanging basket | Material: Twigs, fine roots, lined with rootlets | Height above ground: 1 - 5 m |
The same female White-breasted Whistler as shown above, now near
its nest that is still under construction
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Kulaluk, Darwin, NT, March 2013]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
Size: 27 x 19 mm | Colour: Creamy, with dark-brown speckles | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Food, Diet |
White-breasted Whistlers have a massive bill, enabling them to prey on anthropods such as small crabs.
Lateral view of a male White-breasted Whistler hunting in
mangrove
in an intertidal
wetland
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Coconut Grove, Darwin, NT, August 2020]
Lateral view of a male White-breasted Whistler with its prey; this is
the bird whose
calls were recorded on 7 August 2020
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Coconut Grove, Darwin, NT, August 2020]
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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.
wbrwhis_pb_20200807_3.m4a | (Darwin, NT) | Contact calls (male) | © PB | |
wbrwhis_pb_20200807_2.m4a | (Darwin, NT) | Contact calls + alarm calls (male) | © PB | |
wbrwhis_pb_20200830.m4a | (Darwin, NT) | Contact calls | © PB | |
wbrwhis_pb_20210210_2.m4a | (Darwin, NT) | Contact calls | © PB | |
wbrwhis_pb_20210210.m4a | (Darwin, NT) | Teritorial call | © PB | |
wbrwhis_pb_20200807.m4a | (Darwin, NT) | Various (male) | © PB | |
wbrwhis_pb_20200802.m4a | (Darwin, NT) |
Various (male) (+ Bar-shouldered Dove) |
© PB | |
wbrwhis_pb_20201014.m4a | (Darwin, NT) | ? | © PB |
More White-breasted Whistler sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.