Fiji whistler

The Fiji whistler (Pachycephala vitiensis) is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae, endemic to Fiji.

Fiji whistler
male
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pachycephalidae
Genus: Pachycephala
Species:
P. vitiensis
Binomial name
Pachycephala vitiensis
Gray, GR, 1860
Subspecies

See text

Synonyms
  • Pachycephala graeffii
  • Pachycephala pectoralis vitiensis

Taxonomy and systematics

It was variably considered a subspecies of a widespread golden whistler (P. pectoralis).[2][3] Three of the subspecies (P. v. kandavensis, lauana, and vitiensis) of the former white-throated whistler (P. v. kandavensis, lauana, and vitiensis) were lumped with the Fiji whistler in 2014 by the IOC.[4] The Temotu whistler was formerly considered conspecific with the Fiji whistler.

Subspecies

Ten subspecies are recognized:[5]

  • P. v. kandavensis - Ramsay, 1876: Originally described as a separate species. Found on Kadavu
  • P. v. lauana - Mayr, 1932: Found in southern Lau Islands
  • P. v. vitiensis - Gray, G.R. 1860: Found on Gau Island
  • P. v. bella - Mayr, 1932: Found on Vatu Vara
  • P. v. koroana - Mayr, 1932: Found on Koro Island
  • Taveuni whistler (P. v. torquata), or Taveuni Island golden whistler - Layard, EL, 1875: Originally described as a separate species. Found on Taveuni Island
  • P. v. aurantiiventris - Seebohm, 1891: Originally described as a separate species. Found on Yanganga and Vanua Levu
  • P. v. ambigua - Mayr, 1932: Found on southeast Vanua Levu, Rabi, and Kioa
  • P. v. optata - Hartlaub, 1866: Originally described as a separate species. Found on south-eastern Viti Levu and Ovalau
  • P. v. graeffii - Hartlaub, 1866: Originally described as a separate species. Found on Waya and Viti Levu

Description

Some of the subspecies of the Fiji whistler are yellow-throated, while others are white-throated.[2] It has been speculated that these two groups are the result of separate waves of colonisations, with the yellow-throated being the result of an early colonisation, and the white-throated the result of a secondary colonisation.[2] The yellow-throated are found on most northern and central islands (Vanua Levu, Viti Levu, Taveuni, Ovalau, Kioa, Rabi, Koro and Vatu Vara), while the white-throated are found on some southern islands (Kadavu, Gau and southern Lau Islands.[2]

Vocalisations

References
  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Pachycephala vitiensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T103693448A104274221. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103693448A104274221.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. Boles, W. E. (2007). Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis). pp. 421-423 in: del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie, D. eds (2007). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 978-84-96553-42-2
  3. IOC World Bird List, version 1.7
  4. "IOC World Bird List 4.4". IOC World Bird List Datasets. doi:10.14344/ioc.ml.4.4.
  5. "IOC World Bird List 6.3". IOC World Bird List Datasets. doi:10.14344/ioc.ml.6.3.
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