Red-lored whistler: Difference between revisions

| status_ref = <ref name="iucn">{{Citecite iucn | author = BirdLife International. |year=2022 |title = ''Pachycephala rufogularis'' | volume = 20162022 | page = e.T22705434A94018449T22705434A213489892 | date = 2016 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.20162022-32.RLTS.T22705434A94018449T22705434A213489892.en |access-date=7 November 2024}}</ref>

The vulnerable<ref name=":0">BirdLife International. 2016. ''Pachycephala rufogularis''. ''The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species'' 2016: e.T22705434A94018449. <nowiki>https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016red-3.RLTS.T22705434A94018449.en</nowiki></ref>lored whistler'''Red-lored Whistler(''' (''Pachycephala rufogularis''''') is one of nine species of Whistlerwhistler occurring in [[Australia]] <ref name=":1">{{cite book|author=Menkhorst, Peter;|author2= Rogers, Danny & |author3=Clarke, Rohan (|year=2017). '' |title=The Australian Bird Guide''. ClaytonGuideClayton South: |publisher=CSIRO Publishing. p. |page=476. {{ISBN|isbn=9780643097544}}.</ref> and a member of the family [[Pachycephalidae]] family which includes Whistlerswhistlers, [[Shrikethrush|Shrikeshrike-thrushes]], [[Pitohui (genus)|Pitohuispitohuis]] and allies. The limited range of this [[Endemism|endemic]] [[bird]] of the [[Mallee (biogeographic region)|Mallee]] woodland in one small area in New South Wales and another, larger area encompassing north-western Victoria and adjacent South Australia has seen it listed Nationallynationally as [[Vulnerable species|vulnerable]].<ref name="iucn" />

The scientific name refers to the red throat, [[Lore (anatomy)|lores]] and face and literally translates to thick head red throat (''pachy –'' 'thick'; ''cephala'' – 'head'; ''rufo'' – 'red'; ''gularis'' – 'throat'). Whistler’sWhistlers were once known as Thickheadsthickheads. Alternate names include '''Buffbuff- breasted, Redred-throated''' or '''Rufousrufous-throated Whistlerwhistler''' or '''Thickheadthickhead''';, and '''Redred-lored Thickheadthickhead'''. <ref name=":2">{{cite book|editor=Higgins, P. J. & |editor2=Peter, J. M. (Eds.) (|year=2002). ''|title=Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds: Volume |volume=6 – Pardalotes to Shrike-thrushes''. |location=South Melbourne: |publisher=Oxford University Press. pp. 1084-1092.|pages=1084–1092}}</ref>

The monotypic Redred-lored Whistlerwhistler is a part of the corvoid radiation of oscine passerines, although there remains no clear consensus as to the position of Whistlerswhistlers within the [[Corvoidea]] or to the relationships within the Pachycephalidae. <ref>Boles, W. (2020).{{cite taxon|BOW|id=relwhi1|title=Red-lored Whistler (''Pachycephala rufogularis''), |version =1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.relwhi1.01</nowiki>}}</ref>

The male has an orange/buff face and throat, a grey breastband extending around the neck and over the head and rufous underparts with pale yellow/olive edging to primaries. Some males are reported having a buff collar. <ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite book|author=Pizzey, Graham (|year=2012). ''|title=The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia'' (|edition=Ninth ed.) |location=Sydney: |publisher=Harper Collins Publishers. p. |page=408. {{ISBN|isbn=9780732291938}}.</ref> The female is similar but with paler throat and underparts,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Red-lored whistler ''Pachycephala rufogularis'' |department=Saving Our Species |work=environment.nsw.gov.au |date= |access-date=17 November 2024 |url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Animals-and-plants/Threatened-species/red-lored-whistler-pachycephala-rufogularis-factsheet-200570.pdf}}</ref> with a hint of buff. The eye is red, and bill and legs are dark. They weigh {{cvt|30-38g38|g}} and have a length of 19-22cm{{cvt|19–22|cm}}. Unlike other whistler species the throat colour of the Redred-lored Whistlerwhistler extends upwards to include the lores and face, distinguishing it from the closely related and similar [[Gilbert's whistler|Gilbert’s Whistler]] (''Pacycephalas inornata'') which also has a red throat. Females and juveniles of both species are very similar, making them harder to distinguish although the Redred-lored Whistlerwhistler has a slightly more buff colouring. Field identification is further compounded by the fact that the range of the Redred-lored Whistlerwhistler fits wholly within that of Gilbert’s Whistlerwhistler. Both species share the same habitat and have similar behaviour and calls. [[John Gould]], who described both species, was not familiar with the Gilbert's whistler at the time he identified the Redred-lored Whistlerwhistler: this is surprising, as the path that he travelled took him through areas where the Gilbert's whistler is not uncommon. It is possible that, in the absence of specimens, even Gould confused the two species.

The Redred-lored Whistlerwhistler is a bird of the low mallee, [[SpinifexTriodia (plant)|spinifex]], cypress pine and broombush woodland in the desert of central New South Wales, north-western Victoria and adjacent south-eastern South Australia, preferring low mallee woodlands or shrublands with open canopy, above a moderately dense but patchy scrub layer. <ref name=":2" /> Preferred vegetation has a post-fire age of 4-404–40 years, but it is most abundant in areas with a post -fire age of 21-4021–40 years. <ref name=":3">{{cite web|publisher=NSW Department of Environment and Heritage (|year=2019). |title=Red-lored Whistler – profile. <nowiki>|url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?id=10584</nowiki>}}</ref>

The species has long been regarded as sedentary, although the type specimen was collected in the [[Adelaide]] area suggesting some movement does occur. GenerallyIn restricted[[South toAustralia]], theit “Bigis Desert”generally orrestricted “Ninety-mileto Desert” country of south-easternthe [[SouthNinety AustraliaMile Desert]] country and mostly limited to the [[Riverland Biosphere Reserve]]. and itIt is now regularly observed north of the [[Murray River]] at [[Gluepot Reserve]]. The population on the [[Eyre Peninsula]] is thought to be extinct., Inin central [[New South Wales]] the Redred-lored Whistlerwhistler is restricted to the mallee within [[Round Hill Nature Reserve]] and nearby [[Nombinnie Nature Reserve]] where it is regularly observed, although it was previously recorded at Scotia in south-western New South Wales. In [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], the Redred-lored Whistlerwhistler can be found in the [[Ngarkat Conservation Park|Ngarkat]] / [[Big Desert Wilderness Park|Big Desert]] / [[Wyperfeld, Big Desert and Ngarkat Important Bird Area|Wyperfield]] complex and the [[Murray-Sunset National Park|Murray-Sunset]] / [[Hattah-Kulkyne and Murray-Kulkyne Biosphere Reserve|Hattah]] complex of National Parks. <ref name=":4">{{cite web|publisher=BirdLife International (|year=2020) |title=Species factsheet: ''Pachycephala rufogularis''. Downloaded from <nowiki>http|url=https://wwwdatazone.birdlife.org</nowiki> on 25species/10factsheet/red-lored-whistler-pachycephala-rufogularis|website=BirdLife DataZone|access-date=25 October 2020.}}</ref>

This birdred-lored whistler is shy, secretive and inconspicuous, with it’sits cryptic behaviour making it difficult to see. While it is often seen perched in trees and shrubs, it feeds, for the most part, on the ground, and may be quite difficult to find. Little is known about the movement of this species, although it is thought to be sedentary, with some movement possibly after breeding, the extent of which is unknown. <ref name=":2" /> The Redred-lored Whistlerwhistler builds a substantial, cup-shaped nest made mostly of coarse bark and mallee leaves, neatly woven around the rim in low shrubs and laylays 2-3 eggs. <ref name=":2" /> <ref name=":3" />

The presence of the Redred-lored Whistlerwhistler is most often revealed by its calls, which isare described as charming, sweet, wistful and haunting with varied notes. Individuals respond to ‘pishing’ and will approach a ‘pisher’.

Threats to the Redred-lored Whistlerwhistler include: loss of habitat through clearing, degradation, fragmentation and grazing by feral animals such as goats; fire and inappropriate fire regimes; population fragmentation from clearing and degradation of habitat; predation by foxes and cats; catastrophe, such as drought and wildfire; and climate change. ^[6]

Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List as atsince 1 October 2016<ref name=":0iucn" /> and in the Commonwealth [[Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999|''Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act'' 1999]] (EPBC Act), large parts of its range are protected, as Nationalnational Parksparks and other reserves. The Redred-lored Whistlerwhistler is subject to a different conservation status in each Statestate where it occurs. Population estimates in the year 2000 were around 10,000 and decreasing.<ref>''{{cite book|author=Garnett, Stephen T. &''  ''|author2=Crowley, Gabriel M. (|year=2000). |title=The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000: |chapter=Taxon Summary – Red-Lored Whistler. |publisher=Environment Australia|isbn=0-6425-4683-5}}</ref> The most recent estimate is not more than 2,000 mature individuals, with about half of these in the Riverland Biosphere Reserve.''<ref name=":4" />

Victoria: Threatened under the [[Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988|''Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act'' 1988]]. <ref>{{cite web|publisher=Environment NSW (|year=2009). |title=Red-lored Whistler (''Pachycephala rufogularisIrufogularis'') – critically endangered species listing. <nowiki>|url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/threatened-species/nsw-threatened-species-scientific-committee/determinations/final-determinations/2008-2010/red-lored-whistler-pachycephala-rufogularis-critically-endangered-species-listing</nowiki>}}</ref> <ref>Victorian{{cite Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (2016).book |title=National Recovery Plan for the Malleemallee Emuemu-Wrenwren (''Stipiturus malle''), Redred-lored Whistlerwhistler (''Pachycephala rufogularis''), Westernwestern Whipbirdwhipbird (''Psophodes nigrogularis leucogaster''). Canberra: Australian Government Department of the Environment. <nowiki>|url=https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/3f603fca-2343-44d6-9371-3aa16b4f529e/files/national-recovery-plan-three-mallee-birds.pdf</nowiki> {{ISBN|location=Canberra |publisher=Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning; Australian Government Department of the Environment |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-74242-347-0}} (online)</ref> Under this Act, an ''Action Statement'' for the recovery and future management of this species has not yet been prepared.<ref>[{{cite web|url=http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/617768308BCB666E4A25684E00192281E7A24BB36FF60A144A256DEA00244294 |publisher=Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria]|title=Flora {{webarchiveand Fauna Guarantee Act: Index of Approved Action Statements|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060911130015/http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/617768308BCB666E4A25684E00192281E7A24BB36FF60A144A256DEA00244294|archive-date=2006-09-11}}</ref> On the 2007 advisory list of threatened vertebrate fauna in Victoria, the Redred-lored Whistlerwhistler is listed as [[endangered]].<ref name="DSE200">{{cite book | author = Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment | title = Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria - 2007 | publisher = Department of Sustainability and Environment | year = 2007 | location = East Melbourne, Victoria | pages = 15 | isbn = 978-1-74208-039-0 }}</ref>

[[Category:Birds of Victoria (Australiastate)]]

[[Category:Birds described in 1841|red-lored whistlerPachycephala]]