The Golden Whistler is a smallish whistler with a dark stubby bill.
The adult male has dramatic breeding colours with a black hood, white throat and vivid yellow underparts.
The adult female is plain grey with pale yellow edges to the flight feathers and a distinctive yellow around the underbelly vent area.
Golden Whistlers are found in varied forest and woodland habitats, from rainforest to mallee scrub, and from coast to sub-alpine regions.
In eastern Australia they are partial north-south migrants and will be noticed in East Gippsland in spring. At a recent Birdlife East Gippsland outing, Golden Whistler calls rang cheerily in the
forest canopy.
The Golden Whistler voice is strong and melodious and even if the birds are not seen, their beautiful, whistled song carries on the wind for hundreds of metres
and is a common sound in
our bush throughout spring and summer.
Although songs are varied, during breeding season the males will give persistent, loud, ringing whistles with a quick rise in notes at the end, musically imitating the sharp ‘whip-crack’ ending of the Eastern Whipbird.
Golden Whistlers pluck insects and spiders from foliage and bark from lower or middle tree level; berries are also foraged. They are usually seen as singles or pairs but, when not breeding, will join multi-species flocks to feed.
Male and female pairs share the nest building duties. The nest is an open cup made of twigs, grass and bark bound together with spider web and lined with finer fibres. It is built in a tree fork, up to 6m above the ground. Both sexes incubate a clutch of two eggs over a 15-day incubation period and both parents care for the young.
Birdlife East Gippsland welcomes visitors and newcomers.
Birdlife East Gippsland meets weekly from 9am to 12pm on Mondays, including a tea break. New members and visitors are always welcome. The annual schedule of outings across the region ensures diverse locations and interesting bird observing. The records collected are submitted to the national database.
BYO refreshments and water; wear appropriate clothing, boots and sun protection. Binoculars are handy. Planned outings may be affected by regional weather and emergency warnings. If unsure, please check via Birdlife
East Gippsland Facebook page or email.
