Australian golden whistler

The Australian golden whistler was formally described in 1802 as Muscicapa pectoralis by the English ornithologist John Latham. The specific epithet is Latin meaning "of the breast" or "pectoral". A year earlier he had described the species under the English name, the "black-breasted flycatcher", but had not coined a binomial name. Latham gave the type locality as Nova Hollandia in Australia but this was restricted to Port Jackson, Sydney, New South Wales by Gregory Mathews in 1920. The Australian golden whistler is now placed in the genus Pachycephala that was introduced in 1825 by the Irish zoologist Nicholas Vigors. This bird was formerly known as white-throated thickhead. Seven subspecies are now recognised: A molecular phylogenetic study by Serina Brady and collaborators published in 2021 compared nuclear sequences and found that P. p. fuliginosa and P. p. occidentalis were closely related to P. p. youngi. The study did not sample the nominate P. p. pectoralis nor the two insular subspecies. ==Description==

The male has a bright yellow underside and nape, olive-green back and wings, a black head and chest-band, and a white throat. A notable exception is the Norfolk golden whistler (P. p. xanthoprocta) where the plumage of the male is female-like. In Australia females are overall dull brownish-grey, though some have yellowish undertail coverts. Both sexes have a black bill, dark legs and red-brown eyes. For subspecies P. p. xanthoprocta, the Norfolk golden whistler, the male is similar in appearance to the female of the nominate race but the upperparts are more olive and the lower breast and belly are paler yellow. Australian golden whistlers have a strong, musical voice. ==Distribution and habitat==

The Australian golden whistler can be found in almost any wooded habitat, especially dense forests. It eats berries, insects, spiders, and other small arthropods. They usually feed alone and obtain food from the lower to middle tree level, or they may alternatively take part in mixed-species feeding flocks. ==Behaviour==

This species breeds between September and January. Male and female both work on the nest, which is a shallow bowl made of twigs, grass, and bark, and bound together with spider web. Only one brood is raised per season and both birds share incubation and care of young. Eggs hatch 15 days after they are laid and the young leave the nest after 12 days. ==Conservation status==

The Australian golden whistler is considered to be of least concern, Another island subspecies, the Lord Howe golden whistler (P. p. contempta) remains common, It is not listed anymore. ==Gallery==

Golden Whistler male kobble08.jpg|Male, Queensland, Australia Pachycephala pectoralis -Wollery, Denmark, Western Australia, Australia -juvenile-8.jpg|Juvenile Golden Whistler singing.jpg|Male singing, Mallacoota, Australia Song of the Australian Golden Whistler.ogg|Song recorded in Mallacoota, Victoria, Australia Pachycephala pectoralis calling - Meehan Range.ogv|thumbtime=10|right|Meehan Range, Tasmania == References ==