Brown-backed Whistler
Pachycephala modesta
Brown-backed Whistler (Pachycephala modesta) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
The Brown-backed Whistler (Pachycephala modesta) is a member of the Pachycephalidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 18.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Pachycephalidae Whistlers & Allies
- Genus Pachycephala
- Species modesta
Quick facts
- Weight
- 18.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Pachycephalidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Brown-backed Whistler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Brown-backed Whistler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Brown-backed Whistler (Pachycephala modesta) belongs to the Pachycephalidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU montane c, e New Guinea.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 18.3 g, with a wing length of about 8.4 cm and a tail of around 6.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 68,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Brown-backed Whistler?
The Brown-backed Whistler is a small bird that weighs around 18.3 g.
Where does the Brown-backed Whistler live?
The Brown-backed Whistler is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU montane c, e New Guinea, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Brown-backed Whistler belong to?
The Brown-backed Whistler (Pachycephala modesta) belongs to the Pachycephalidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Brown-backed Whistler eat?
The Brown-backed Whistler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Brown-backed Whistler migrate?
The Brown-backed Whistler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Brown-backed Whistler endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Brown-backed Whistler make?
1 real field recording of the Brown-backed Whistler — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Brown-backed Whistler's range?
The Brown-backed Whistler has a mapped global range of about 68,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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