Photo: Gray, 1858 / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-headed Whistler
Pachycephala monacha
Black-headed Whistler (Pachycephala monacha) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-headed Whistler (Pachycephala monacha) is a member of the Pachycephalidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 26 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 monacha
Quick facts
- Weight
- 26 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 Black-headed Whistler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black-headed Whistler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-headed Whistler (Pachycephala monacha) is a member of the Pachycephalidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Aru Is. (sw of New Guinea) and New Guinea.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 26 g, with a wing length of about 8.5 cm and a tail of around 6.1 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 33,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-headed Whistler?
The Black-headed Whistler is a small bird that weighs around 26 g.
Where does the Black-headed Whistler live?
The Black-headed Whistler is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Aru Is. (sw of New Guinea) and New Guinea, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-headed Whistler belong to?
The Black-headed Whistler (Pachycephala monacha) belongs to the Pachycephalidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-headed Whistler eat?
The Black-headed Whistler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black-headed Whistler migrate?
The Black-headed Whistler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-headed 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 Black-headed Whistler make?
1 real field recording of the Black-headed 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 Black-headed Whistler's range?
The Black-headed Whistler has a mapped global range of about 33,000 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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