Rufous Whistler

1. Male: white throat with bold black border and rufous underparts

2. Robust, sturdy build with short, stout bill

3. Females and juveniles: grey-brown above, streaked underparts

Rufous Whistlers are primarily insectivorous, gleaning insects from leaves, bark, and branches, and occasionally catching prey on the wing. They are territorial during the breeding season, which runs from July to March, with most breeding activity peaking between August and January. Pairs are socially monogamous, often returning to the same territory each year. Nests are open cups built in tree forks or dense foliage, usually 2–3 eggs are laid per clutch, and both parents share incubation and feeding duties, with the female typically incubating at night. The incubation period is 14–17 days. Rufous Whistlers can live up to 15 years, and some populations are migratory, moving north for winter and returning south to breed.

Rufous Whistlers inhabit a wide range of environments, including open forests, woodlands, mallee, shrublands, and well-vegetated gardens. They are most often found in the mid to upper canopy (typically 5–15 metres high), where they forage and sing. The species is common throughout mainland Australia, with higher concentrations on the east coast and in the southwest, and is less common in the drier inland and absent from Tasmania. Listen for their loud, ringing calls at dawn and dusk, especially in spring and summer.