Olive Whistler - profile

Scientific name: Pachycephala olivacea 
 Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Description

The Olive Whistler is a small, stocky bird with a large head and strong sharp bill. It grows up to 22 cm long, including the 10 cm tail. It has a dark grey head, olive-brown upperparts, a grey throat and buff-brown underparts. The female is duller in colour than the male. The Olive Whistler has perhaps the most rich and melodious array of calls of any of the whistlers.

Location and habitat

Distribution
 The Olive Whistler inhabits the wet forests on the ranges of the east coast. It has a disjunct distribution in NSW chiefly occupying the beech forests around Barrington Tops and the MacPherson Ranges in the north and wet forests from Illawarra south to Victoria. In the south it is found inland to the Snowy Mountains and the Brindabella Range.

• Mostly inhabit wet forests above about 500m. During the winter months they may move to lower altitudes.
• Forage in trees and shrubs and on the ground, feeding on berries and insects.
• Make nests of twigs and grass in low forks of shrubs.
• Lay two or three eggs between September and January

Regional information
This species is found in the following catchment management authority regions. Click on a region name to see more details about the distribution, vegetation types and habitat preference of the species in that region.

• Central West
• Hawkesbury/Nepean
• Hunter/Central Rivers
• Murray
• Murrumbidgee
• Namoi
• Northern Rivers
• Southern Rivers

Threats

• Clearing and fragmentation of habitat.
• Fire that is too intense, widespread or frequent resulting in changed vegetation structure and composition.
• Predation by foxes and cats.

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Department of Environment and Conservation has identified 1 priority actions to help recover the Olive Whistler in New South Wales.

What needs to be done to recover this species?

• Undertake fox and feral cat control programs.
• Apply mosaic, low frequency, low intensity burning regimes.
• Retain and protect known and likely habitat.

References

• Boles, W. (1988) The Robins and Flycatchers of Australia. Angus and Robertson, Sydney.
• Pizzey, G. and Knight, F. (2003) The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia 7th Edition. Menkhorst, P. (ed). HarperCollins.