Rufoous Whistler

RUFOUS WHISTLER Pachycephala rufiventris

The Rufous Whistlers were very loud in the area along the Kilmore train line the other day. It was quite a dull day and I was a little surprised to hear and see them so busy.

 

This pair were flitting about and calling and calling. I could hear numbers of birds also calling , among them other whistlers. 

 

 

 

Perhaps something was worrying them; a fox, an eagle, snake, perhaps me. 

Despite all their singing, this pair, a male and female, would stop every now and then and sit quite still for a moment. then they would start their singing once again. 

 

 

 

 

The Michael Morcombe Field Guide To Australian Birds describes the song as 'a long, loud, rapid succession of ringing notes, often 20 to 35 without pause, cheWIT-cheWIT-cheWit'

At the end of each sequence, one or both of the birds would finish their song with an upward inflection, a little like the call of aWhipbird 

 

 

The male has a white bib outlined by the black stripe running from around his eye, and a bright rufous chest.

The female also has rufous chest, a little lighter in shade and without the bib. She also has dark streaks amongst the rufous colouring on her chest. 

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