Gray Whistler

1. Slim, elegant build with greyish-brown upperparts and pale off-white underparts

2. Off-white eyebrow stripe and fine brown streaking on the throat

3. Juveniles show rufous tones in wings and upperparts; males and females appear identical

Grey Whistlers are active insectivores, gleaning insects from leaves and branches high in the canopy. They may join mixed-species flocks and maintain loose territories throughout the year. Breeding mainly occurs during the wet season, from December to March. Pairs construct neat cup-shaped nests in high forks of trees. Females typically lay 2 eggs per clutch, but detailed information on incubation roles is limited. Both parents are likely involved in caring for the young, as is common in the family.

Grey Whistlers inhabit the dense forests of northern Australia, especially in north Queensland and the Top End of the Northern Territory. They favour tall rainforest, monsoon forest, vine thickets, and mangrove habitats, often along edges and in regrowth. These birds forage mostly in the middle to upper levels of the canopy, rarely descending to the ground. Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times to observe them, as they are most active when insect prey is abundant. Their clear, two-note whistle is often the best clue to their presence`.`