Notes on the Status and Ecology of the Red-lored Whistler Pachycephala rufogularis

Abstract

History and data on habitat relationships of the Red-lored Whistler Pachycephala rufogularis are reviewed briefly. I further investigated its ecology and distribution, prompted by concern about its status, especially in the light of an expanding vegetation-harvesting industry (broombush-cutting) in its apparent stronghold (the Big Desert of northwest Victoria). The Red-lored Whistler is reasonably widespread in the Big Desert and in South Australia in the Ninety Mile Desert. The habitat, morphology and foraging of the Red-lored Whistler is compared with that of three other whistler species also occuning in this mallee area; the Gilbert's P. inornata, Rufous P rufiventris and Golden P. pectoralis. Red-lored Whistlers foraged more on the ground and preferred vegetation characterised by a dense (> 30% horizontal cover) low (< 1.5 m) layer, and very open (< 10%) tree canopy (> 3 m). Preferred vegetation age was relatively young (5-30 years). Red-lored Whistlers occurred in vegetation with a diverse floristic composition and they probably require areas with a mosaic of vegetation units. Broombush-harvesting probably has little impact on the species. However, the continued clearing of mallee vegetation is whittling away the already relatively limited area of suitable habitat.