Pachycephala olivacea

Olive Whistler at Black Range, NSW

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Identification history

Pachycephala olivacea

5 Jul 2020

AndrewMcCutcheon

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User's notes

At first I thought I took a photo of a female Golden Whistler, but on closer inspection of the images on my computer I realized it was an elusive Olive Whistler. It was foraging for food low in the undergrowth in the small area of grassy woodland we have on our block. Needless to say this is my only sighting of this species (listed as Vulnerable in NSW) at Black Range.

10 comments

MaxCampbell wrote:

5 Jul 2020

Hi Andrew, I think it looks like a female golden whistler, with its grey head and upper parts and slightly buff grey under. The wing markings are also a good match. Can't see the yellow feathers around the cloaca, but that may be camera angle. Except for one sighting up on Mumbulla, I haven't much experience with Olive whistlers, but from my photos and guide books I would expect the lower breast and flanks to be a tawny buff and mostly olive brown above. (Male head is grey but has a sharp cut-off to olive brown at the neck.)

AndrewMcCutcheon wrote:

6 Jul 2020

Hi Max, I know these greyish brown whistlers are hard to identify, but I still think this bird is an Olive Whistler. I have seen lots of (and photographed some) female or immature Golden Whistlers. Certainly the colors are not so clearly distinct on this whistler but the head is definitely grey and the wings an olive brown, while the lower breast is a light tawny buff with a white edge just below the wing. As well as that the throat has a mottled or scalloped pattern with a smooth grey upper breast below that is not present in the plain forms of the Golden W. Enlarging my images to look at the under-tail coverts I cannot see any sign of yellow. I am thinking of sending these images to some Birdlife Aust. experts I know in Melbourne to confirm what species this bird is. I should also mention that the location at Black Range is close to Wet Sclerophyll forest (good for Olive Whistlers) and is about 260 metres above sea level.

MaxCampbell wrote:

7 Jul 2020

Hi Andrew, Input from Birdlife Australia would be a good thing, I think. Perhaps one of our bird moderators with more Olive whistler experience (than me) can help out. The mottled pattern at the throat is a good point in favour of an olive whistler.

AndrewMcCutcheon wrote:

7 Jul 2020

Hi Max, Had some trouble with the internet over the last few days, hence my comment appearing twice. The first attempt to send was very slow at responding, so I tried again thinking it did not get through, the result being it appears twice. Is there a way of removing one of them? I agree that Olive Whistlers are not easy to confirm, and want to be certain with this one so I will go ahead and contact the experts I know in Melbourne.

MaxCampbell wrote:

8 Jul 2020

Hi Andrew, You should have an edit symbol and a trash can symbol top right in each of your comments. To delete, you click on the trash can. You'll get a"do you really want to?" notice to confirm. I'll be interested to hear what the Birdlife Aust guys think. I'm currently hemming and hawing on a couple of Matthew's Olive Whistler sightings from Black Range, so a bit more clarity would be appreciated.

AndrewMcCutcheon wrote:

8 Jul 2020

Hi Max, I have had a look at Matthew's Olive Whistler sightings and agree with you that the bird reported on 9 April is an immature Golden Whistler. But the other whistler he reported on 26 May could possibly be the same individual I photographed. There is a sign of tawny buff on the breast and a lighter colored throat compared to the dark grey head. If the bird I photographed is confirmed to be an Olive Whistler then it's possible the bird Matthew saw may be one as well. As you will see I have removed the repeated text.

AndrewMcCutcheon wrote:

9 Jul 2020

Hi Max, I have just received confirmation that this bird is an Olive Whistler from Mike Carter, a Birdlife Australia member well known by many for his expertise on birds. In his words: "Yes, that is an Olive Whistler – a female. The contrast between the grey head and brown back are good clues and I suspect the extent of mottling on the throat is greater than in any Golden Whistler."

MaxCampbell wrote:

10 Jul 2020

Hi Andrew, That's great news: I've confirmed your ID and will put your photos 2&3 up in the define species list.

MaxCampbell wrote:

11 Jul 2020

Hi Andrew, Some good Olive Whistler photos and calls here: ......
https://www.graemechapman.com.au/library/viewphotos.php?c=562&pg=1

AndrewMcCutcheon wrote:

13 Jul 2020

Thanks Max, that is a good website. Unfortunately the Olive Whistler was not making any calls, but I am paying more attention to any unusual whistler calls which so far have led me finding yet another Golden Whistler. I will keep trying to find these elusive birds.

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