Rufous whistler
| Rufous whistler | |
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| Male | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Pachycephalidae |
| Genus: | Pachycephala |
| Species: | P. rufiventris |
| Binomial name | |
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Pachycephala rufiventris (Latham, 1801) |
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| Subspecies | |
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see text |
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| Synonyms | |
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see text
The rufous whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris) is a species of whistler found in New Caledonia and Australia. Predominantly a reddish-brown and grey bird, it makes up for its subdued plumage with its song-making ability. Like many other members of the Pachycephalidae, it has a variety of musical calls.
The rufous whistler was originally described in the genus Sylvia by the English ornithologist John Latham in 1801, and subsequently classified within the genera Turdus, Laniarius and Lanius before being classified in its present genus Pachycephala. Alternate names for the rufous whistler include the rufous-bellied whistler and white-bellied whistler. The latter name should not be confused with the species of the same name, Pachycephala leucogastra. Some authorities have considered the black-headed, drab and cinnamon-breasted whistlers to be subspecies of the rufous whistler.
Five subspecies are recognized:
Rufous whistlers are large-headed and stocky. They have short beaks and long tails (almost as long as the rest of the bird) which are very narrow and have sharp, forked tips. The species is sexually dimorphic. While females are typically dull brown or grey with streaked underbodies, males are predominantly dark-grey with white throats and (in most cases) a black mask that covers most of their head and some of their neck. These birds are between 16 and 18 centimetres in size, on average, and their average weight is approximately 25 grams.
The rufous whistler has a variety of musical calls which consist of a lengthy series of ringing notes.
The rufous whistler can be found in forested areas, woodland and shrubland, but also in gardens and farmland. It migrates seasonally, moving south in the spring and north in the autumn. In New Caledonia the species does not undertake migrations but is instead resident in areas of open forest and savannah.
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Wikipedia