Bird Guide

Australian Golden Whistler vs Olive Whistler

Australian Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis)

Australian Golden Whistler

Pachycephala pectoralis

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The male has a bright yellow underside and nape, olive-green back and wings, a black head and chest-band, and a white throat. A notable exception is the Norfolk golden whistler (P. p. xanthoprocta) where the plumage of the male is female-like. In Australia females are overall dull brownish-grey, though some have yellowish undertail coverts. Both sexes have a black bill, dark legs and red-brown eyes. For subspecies P. p. contempta, the Lord Howe golden whistler, the male is similar to the male of the nominate race but has a duller yellow below which is slightly tinged with olive.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Australian Golden Whistler
Recorded by James Ray · Song, litoria peroni · Faulconbridge, Blue Mountains City Council, New South Wales, Australia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Damien O'Donnell · CC BY 4.0
Olive Whistler (Pachycephala olivacea)

Olive Whistler

Pachycephala olivacea

Small41 gShrubland

Adult birds are around 18–20 cm (7–8 in) long, and have an overall olive brown plumage with a streaked white throat. To an untrained eye, they can be mistaken for female golden whistlers. The male has a dark grey head, pale grey breast and red-tinged buff belly and rump. The female lacks the red tinge, and has brown underparts. The legs, bill and eyes of both sexes are a brown-black. The melodious call has been likened to I'll wet you or you're cranky, and is possibly the most musical of all whistlers.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Liam Sultana · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Australian Golden Whistler and Olive Whistler.