Olive Whistler

About the Olive Whistler

The olive whistler (Pachycephala olivacea) or olivaceous whistler, is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae, the whistlers, that is native to southeastern Australia. Five subspecies are recognized: P. o. macphersoniana – White, HL, 1920: Found in eastern Australia

P. o. olivacea – Vigors & Horsfield, 1827: Found in southeastern Australia P. o. bathychroa – Schodde & Mason, 1999: Found in southeastern Australia P. o. apatetes – Schodde & Mason, 1999: Found in Tasmania and islands in the Bass Strait, Australia

P. o. hesperus – Schodde & Mason, 1999: Found in southern Australia 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.

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