White-breasted Whistler

1. Male: black crown and nape, white throat, black and chestnut breast bands

2. Chunky build with thick, hooked black bill

3. Female: pale grey-brown above, white streaked underparts

White-breasted Whistlers are mangrove specialists, feeding on small crabs and marine invertebrates, which they extract from mud and bark using their powerful bills. Breeding occurs from late August to October. Nests are built in mangrove forks, often bound with spider webs. Females typically lay 2 eggs per clutch, and both parents likely share incubation and care of the young. The species is known for its longevity, with individuals living over 15 years. They are sedentary and rarely move far from their home mangrove patch.

The White-breasted Whistler is found only in mangrove forests along the northern coastline of Australia, from the Pilbara and Kimberley regions of Western Australia through the Northern Territory and into the Gulf of Carpentaria, but not extending east of Normanton in Queensland. Its distribution is fragmented by gaps in mangrove habitat. These birds are year-round residents, foraging at all levels of the mangroves, from muddy roots to the canopy, and are best seen during low tide when they search for prey on exposed mud and fallen logs`.`