male; white throat contrasts with black hood (Australia; 2006-06-20)


Rufous Whistler
Pachycephala rufiventris

Native Range: Australian Region

Notes: whistlers (Pachycephalidae with more than 40 species) are mainly Australasian birds renowned for their rich and varied songs; they also have heads that seem large in proportion to their bodies; males are usually (but not always) more brightly colored than females and show a diversity of plumage colors and patterns; usually seen foraging alone or in pairs in trees; the Rufous Whistler occurs throughout much of Australia and has several distinguishable geographic races.

otherwise the male has bright rufous undeparts (Australia; 2006-06-20)
gray on the nape here can be rufous in other races (Australia; 2006-06-20)

female; streaked underneath with brown (Australia; 2006-06-20)
note the rather large head relative to body size (Australia; 2006-06-20)