''Pachycephala'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweig ...

s native to Oceania and Southeast Asia. They are commonly known as typical whistlers. Older guidebooks may refer to them as thickheads, a literal translation of the generic name, which is derived from the

Ancient Greek Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic p ...

terms ''pachys'' "thick" + ''kephale'' "head". This lineage originated in Australo-Papua and later colonized the Indonesian and Philippine archipelagos to the west and the Pacific archipelagos to the east.

Taxonomy and systematics

Extant species

There are forty-eight

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

of whistlers: * Olive whistler (''Pachycephala olivacea'') *

Red-lored whistler The red-lored whistler (''Pachycephala rufogularis'') is one of nine species of whistler occurring in AustraliaMenkhorst, Peter; Rogers, Danny & Clarke, Rohan (2017). '' The Australian Bird Guide''. Clayton South: CSIRO Publishing. p. 476. . and ...

(''Pachycephala rufogularis'') * Gilbert's whistler (''Pachycephala inornata'') *

Mangrove whistler The mangrove whistler (''Pachycephala cinerea'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae found in South-east Asia. Taxonomy and systematics Alternate names for the mangrove whistler include the grey thickhead and white-bellied whistle ...

(''Pachycephala cinerea'') *

Biak whistler The Biak whistler (''Pachycephala melanorhyncha'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae The Pachycephalidae are a family of bird species that includes the whistlers, shrikethrushes, and three of the pitohuis, and is part of the ...

(''Pachycephala melanorhyncha'') *

Green-backed whistler The green-backed whistler (''Pachycephala albiventris'') or olive-backed whistler, is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and tropical mois ...

(''Pachycephala albiventris'') *

White-vented whistler 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 subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest ...

(''Pachycephala homeyeri'') *

Island whistler The island whistler (''Pachycephala phaionota'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae endemic to the Moluccas (Indonesia). Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests. T ...

(''Pachycephala phaionota'') *

Rusty whistler The rusty whistler (''Pachycephala hyperythra'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is endemic to lowland mountain areas of New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Nomenclature Altern ...

(''Pachycephala hyperythra'') *

Brown-backed whistler The brown-backed whistler (''Pachycephala modesta'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae endemic to New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. Taxonomy and systematics The brown-backed whist ...

(''Pachycephala modesta'') *

Yellow-bellied whistler The yellow-bellied whistler (''Pachycephala philippinensis''), or Philippine whistler, is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae that is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest a ...

(''Pachycephala philippinensis'') *

Sulphur-vented whistler The sulphur-vented whistler or sulphur-bellied whistler (''Pachycephala sulfuriventer'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is endemic to Sulawesi in Indonesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland fo ...

(''Pachycephala sulfuriventer'') *

Bornean whistler The Bornean whistler (''Pachycephala hypoxantha'') or Bornean mountain whistler, is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is endemic to the island of Borneo. Subspecies Two subspecies are recognized: * ''P. h. hypoxantha'' – ( ...

(''Pachycephala hypoxantha'') *

Vogelkop whistler The Vogelkop whistler (''Pachycephala meyeri'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is endemic to West Papua, Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forest Montane ecosystems are found on ...

(''Pachycephala meyeri'') * Grey whistler (''Pachycephala simplex'') * Fawn-breasted whistler (''Pachycephala orpheus'') *

Sclater's whistler Sclater's whistler (''Pachycephala soror'') or the hill golden whistler, is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae found in the highlands of New Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtr ...

(''Pachycephala soror'') * Rusty-breasted whistler (''Pachycephala fulvotincta'') * Yellow-throated whistler (''Pachycephala macrorhyncha'') * Baliem whistler (''Pachycephala balim'') * Black-chinned whistler (''Pachycephala mentalis'') *

Australian golden whistler The Australian golden whistler (''Pachycephala pectoralis'') or golden whistler, is a species of bird found in forest, woodland, mallee, mangrove and scrub in Australia (except the interior and most of the north)Ken Simpson, K., & N. Day. (1994 ...

(''Pachycephala pectoralis'') *

Western whistler The western whistler (''Pachycephala fuliginosa'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae found in southwest Australia. Prior to 2015, the western whistler was considered as a subspecies of the Australian golden whistler until recognize ...

(''Pachycephala fuliginosa'') * Bismarck whistler (''Pachycephala citreogaster'') * Oriole whistler (''Pachycephala orioloides'') *

Louisiade whistler The Louisiade whistler (''Pachycephala collaris'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae, which is endemic to the Louisiade Archipelago south-east of New Guinea. It was split from the Bismarck whistler by the IOC in 2015. Taxono ...

(''Pachycephala collaris'') * Rennell whistler (''Pachycephala feminina'') *

Melanesian whistler The Melanesian whistler (''Pachycephala chlorura'') or Vanuatu whistler, is a species of passerine bird in the whistler family Pachycephalidae. It is found on the Loyalty Islands, Vanuatu, and Vanikoro in the far south-eastern Solomons. Taxonom ...

(''Pachycephala chlorura'') *

New Caledonian whistler The New Caledonian whistler (''Pachycephala caledonica'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is endemic to New Caledonia. Taxonomy The New Caledonian whistler was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Fr ...

(''Pachycephala caledonica'') *

Fiji whistler The Fiji whistler (''Pachycephala vitiensis'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae, endemic to Fiji. Taxonomy and systematics It was variably considered a subspecies of a widespread golden whistler ('' P. pectoralis'').Boles, W. ...

(''Pachycephala vitiensis'') *

Temotu whistler The Temotu whistler (''Pachycephala vanikorensis'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae, which is endemic to the Santa Cruz Islands of the Solomon Islands group. It was classified as a separate species in 2016 by the IOC. Two o ...

(''Pachycephala vanikorensis'') * Tongan whistler (''Pachycephala jacquinoti'') *

Mangrove golden whistler The mangrove golden whistler (''Pachycephala melanura'') or black-tailed whistler, is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is found in mangrove forests and adjacent wet forests of Papua New Guinea and Australia. Subspecies Five su ...

(''Pachycephala melanura'') *

Samoan whistler The Samoan whistler (''Pachycephala flavifrons''), also known as the yellow-fronted whistler, is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is endemic to Samoa, where found in forest, plantations and gardens. Taxonomy The Samoan whistle ...

(''Pachycephala flavifrons'') * Hooded whistler (''Pachycephala implicata'') * Bougainville whistler (''Pachycephala richardsi'') *

Bare-throated whistler The bare-throated whistler (''Pachycephala nudigula'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is endemic to the Lesser Sundas. Taxonomy and systematics Alternate names for the bare-throated whistler include the Lesser Sunda whist ...

(''Pachycephala nudigula'') *

Lorentz's whistler Lorentz's whistler (''Pachycephala lorentzi'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is found in the mid-western New Guinea Highlands. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forest Montane ecosystems ar ...

(''Pachycephala lorentzi'') *

Regent whistler The regent whistler (''Pachycephala schlegelii'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is endemic to the highlands of New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. Subspecies Three subspecies ...

(''Pachycephala schlegelii'') *

Golden-backed whistler The golden-backed whistler (''Pachycephala aurea'') or yellow-backed whistler, is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae The Pachycephalidae are a family of bird species that includes the whistlers, shrikethrushes, and three of the p ...

(''Pachycephala aurea'') * Rufous whistler (''Pachycephala rufiventris'') * Black-headed whistler (''Pachycephala monacha'') *

White-bellied whistler The white-bellied whistler (''Pachycephala leucogastra'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. The species has an oddly discontinuous distribution, occurring in two small patches of northern New Guinea, one small patch in south e ...

(''Pachycephala leucogastra'') *

Wallacean whistler The Wallacean whistler (''Pachycephala arctitorquis'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is native to the eastern Lesser Sunda Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical ...

(''Pachycephala arctitorquis'') *

Drab whistler The drab whistler (''Pachycephala griseonota'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is found in the Maluku Islands. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Taxonomy and systematics Some authoritie ...

(''Pachycephala griseonota'') *

Cinnamon-breasted whistler The cinnamon-breasted whistler (''Pachycephala johni'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is endemic to Obira in the Maluku Islands. Formerly, some authorities considered it to be a subspecies of the rufous whistler, whil ...

(''Pachycephala johni'') *

White-breasted whistler The white-breasted whistler (''Pachycephala lanioides'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is endemic to Australia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical mangrove forests. Taxonomy and systematics Alternate names fo ...

(''Pachycephala lanioides'') * Morningbird (''Pachycephala tenebrosa'')

Former species

Formerly, some authorities also considered the following species (or subspecies) as species within the genus ''Pachycephala'': *

Maroon-backed whistler The maroon-backed whistler (''Coracornis raveni'') is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. Some authorities have classified th ...

(as ''Pachycephala raveni'') * Little shrikethrush (fortis) (as ''Pachycephala fortis'') An unidentified ''Pachycephala'' whistler was heard on May 14, 1994 at 1,000 meters ASL south of the summit of

Camiguin Camiguin, officially the Province of Camiguin ( ceb, Probinsya sa Camiguin; tl, Lalawigan ng Camiguin; Kamigin: ''Probinsya ta Kamigin''), is an island province in the Philippines located in the Bohol Sea, about off the northern coast of Min ...

in the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

, where the genus was not previously known to occur. It might have been an undescribed

taxon In biology, a taxon ( back-formation from '' taxonomy''; plural taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular n ...

, or simply a vagrant of a known species.Balete, Danilo S.; Tabaranza, Blas R. Jr. & Heaney, Lawrence R. (2006
An Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Camiguin Island, Philippines
'' Fieldiana Zool. New Series'' 106: 58–72.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2303843 Bird genera