Western Whipbird
Psophodes nigrogularis
EndemicStatus
RareRarity
Bird Gallery
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Species Description
The Western Whipbird is one of Australia’s most secretive birds, found in scattered populations across southwestern and southern Australia. This ground-dwelling songbird is renowned for its elusive nature, more often heard than seen; preferring to stay hidden in dense heathland and mallee thickets.
Fun Facts
The Western Whipbird’s call is a repetitive whistle, often used for territory marking and can be heard from a distance, but it does not make the whipcrack-like call of its eastern relative.
1. Olive-green plumage with a black throat and narrow white cheek stripe
2. Small, pointed crest and long tail with white tips
3. Prefers dense, shrubby habitats and is rarely seen in the open
Western Whipbirds are sedentary, maintaining territories year-round and typically living in pairs. They mainly forage on the ground or in low shrubs, searching for insects and other invertebrates. Breeding occurs from July to November. Nests are bulky domes with a side entrance, built close to the ground in dense vegetation. Females usually lay two eggs per clutch, and both parents share incubation duties and feed the young. Fledglings remain dependent on adults for at least two months after leaving the nest.
Look for Western Whipbirds in dense shrublands, coastal heath, and inland mallee across southwestern Western Australia and southern South Australia, including Kangaroo Island. They favour areas with thick understorey vegetation, often in mallee eucalypt woodlands or heath dominated by shrubs like Melaleuca and Banksia. Early mornings are best for detection, as their repetitive territorial calls can help locate them deep within cover.
Physical Attributes
Height
22 cm
Size Relative to Other Birds49%
Habitat
No habitat information available
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