Louisiade Whistler
Pachycephala collaris
An uncommon, medium-sized bird of coastal forest in New Guinea’s southeastern islands. Typical “golden whistler”. Olive back, yellow belly and white throat. Male has yellow patch on the back of the head, black head and a black or rusty chest band. Female has a brown head. No similar species in range. Medium-pitch, thrushlike song with a few typical whistlerlike “chew!” and “whip!” notes.
Identification
The Louisiade whistler (Pachycephala collaris) is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae, which is endemic to the Louisiade Archipelago south-east of New Guinea. It was split from the Bismarck whistler by the IOC in 2015.
Taxonomy
It has been variably considered a subspecies of a widespread golden whistler (P. pectoralis) or treated as a separate species, but strong published evidence in favour of either treatment is limited, and further study is warranted to resolve the complex taxonomic situation.<p>Two subspecies are recognized:
- Scientific name
- Pachycephala collaris
- Authority
- Ramsay, EP, 1878
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pachycephalidae
- Genus
- Pachycephala
Photos
Distribution
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