The white-vented whistler (Pachycephala homeyeri) is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is found in the southern Philippines and a few islands of Malaysia. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest.
| White-vented whistler | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Pachycephalidae |
| Genus: | Pachycephala |
| Species: | P. homeyeri
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| Binomial name | |
| Pachycephala homeyeri (Blasius, W., 1890)
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| Subspecies | |
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See text | |
| Synonyms | |
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Description and taxonomy
editEBird describes the bird as "Warm brown above and white below with a faint cinnamon wash near the “shoulders” that give it a “vested” appearance. Can be similar to Negros Jungle-Flycatcher, which is generally found at higher altitudes. Look for a combination of longer, smaller-headed profile, and incomplete, diffuse breast band in present species. Found from the central Philippines south to islands off Borneo’s northeastern coast, where it inhabits lowland to submontane forests. Frequently moves with mixed flocks, often in lower levels of forest, but can be found up into the canopy. Gives high, thin, clean-sounding whistles as well as various warbled and whistled notes."[2] The alternate name 'white-bellied whistler' should not be confused with the species of the same name, Pachycephala leucogastra. Formerly, some authorities considered the white-vented whistler to be a subspecies of the mangrove whistler.
Subspecies
editThree subspecies are recognized:[3]
- P. h. homeyeri – (Blasius, W., 1890): Found in the Sulu Archipelago and Basilan; Sipadan and Pandanan Islands, off eastern Sabah (Malaysia)
- P. h. major – (Bourns & Worcester, 1894): Found on Cebu (Philippines)
- P. h. winchelli – (Bourns & Worcester, 1894): Originally described as a separate species. Found in Tablas, Sibuyan, Masbate, Ticao, Panay, Gigantes, Pan de Azucar, Negros
Ecology and behavior
editForages in the understory for insects and often joins mixed-species flocks that include Lemon-throated leaf warbler, Visayan fantail, Flame-templed babbler, white-eyes and other small birds. Adults with enlarged gonads from January to May, breeding recorded in September. No other information about breeding. [4]
Habitat and conservation status
editThis species habitat is primary and secondary forest up to 2,000 meters above sea level.
IUCN has assessed this bird as least-concern species. However, its habitat in the Philippines continues to be deforested throughout the country due to slash and burn farming, mining, illegal logging and habitat conversion.
It is found in multiple protected areas such as Central Cebu Protected Landscape, Mount Kanlaon and Northern Negros Natural Park but like all areas in the Philippines, protection is lax and deforestation continues despite this protection on paper. [5]
References
edit- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Pachycephala homeyeri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22705446A94019356. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22705446A94019356.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "White-vented Whistler - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
- ^ "Whiteheads, sitellas & whistlers « IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
- ^ Boles, Walter (2020). "White-vented Whistler (Pachycephala homeyeri), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.whvwhi1.01species_shared.bow.project_name. ISSN 2771-3105.
- ^ IUCN (2016-10-01). Pachycephala homeyeri: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22705446A94019356 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-3.rlts.t22705446a94019356.en.