Tongan Whistler

Pachycephala jacquinoti

Whistlers and Allies · Passeriformes · Legendary

The Tongan Whistler (Pachycephala jacquinoti) is a legendary whistler found only in Tonga, weighing about 52 g. The Tongan whistler is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae.

Near ThreatenedLegendaryEndemicEats invertebratesforestcup nest52 g

About the Tongan Whistler

The Tongan whistler is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

It is endemic to the islands of Vava'u and Late in Tonga. It is mainly found in tropical primary forest, but can sometimes be seen in second growth or wooded plantations. It is similar to the Australian golden whistler in appearance, but the head and throat of the male is entirely black, and the underparts of the female are yellow. The Tongan whistler is threatened by habitat loss. The Tongan whistler was also described by Jacques Pucheran in the genus Eopsaltria and has been variably considered as a subspecies of the golden whistler.

Where it lives

When to see it

Best months: February, April, June, August, September, October, November, with peak activity in February. It is a variable species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Tongan Whistler?
It is endemic to the islands of Vava'u and Late in Tonga. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Tongan Whistler?
The Tongan Whistler is a small sized bird weighing about 52 g.
Where can you see a Tongan Whistler?
The Tongan Whistler is endemic to Tonga, which is the only country where it occurs.
What birds look similar to a Tongan Whistler?
The Tongan Whistler is most easily confused with the Fawn-breasted Whistler, the Bougainville Whistler and the Rennell Whistler.
Is the Tongan Whistler endangered?
The Tongan Whistler is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Tongan Whistler for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

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