The rufous whistler 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.
Taxonomy and systematics
The rufous whistler was originally described in the genus Sylvia by the English ornithologist John Latham in 1801. It was 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.
Subspecies
Five subspecies are recognized:
P. r. minor – Zietz, FR, 1914: Found on Melville and Bathurst Islands
P. r. falcata – Gould, 1843: Originally described as a separate species. Found in northern Australia
P. r. pallida – Ramsay, EP, 1878: Originally described as a separate species. Found in north-eastern Australia
P. r. rufiventris – : Found in Australia
P. r. xanthetraea – : Originally described as a separate species in the genus Muscicapa. Found in New Caledonia
Description
Rufous whistlers are large-headed and stocky. They have short beaks and long tails 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 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.
Distribution and habitat
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.
Breeding in monogamous pairs, both males and females incubate their eggs and care for their young. The period of incubation is about 13 days on average. The female alone constructs the nest, which usually consists of a combination of twigs, vines, grass and other matter formed in a cup-like shape and attached to a tree branch using strands from spider webs. The breeding season for rufous whistlers is between the months of July and February.
Feeding
While rufous whistlers primarily feed on insects, they also eat seeds, fruit and occasionally, leaves and grasses. They never forage for food on the ground which is unusual for whistlers which typically do not forage at particularly high levels.
