About Psophodes olivaceus (Latham, 1802)
This species, Psophodes olivaceus, commonly called the eastern whipbird, is a slim bird that measures 26–30 cm (10–12 in) in length and weighs 47–72 grams (1.7–2.5 oz). Its plumage is primarily olive green, with a black head and black breast. It has a small black crest and a distinct white cheek patch on its face. Its abdomen is paler than the rest of its body, and it has a long dark olive-green tail tipped with white. This bird has a brown iris, a black bill, and blackish feet. Males are slightly larger than females. Juvenile eastern whipbirds are a duller olive-brown, and do not have the species' characteristic white cheek stripes and dark throat. Eastern whipbirds are generally shy, and are heard far more often than they are seen. Their long, drawn-out call follows a pattern: a long opening note, followed by a sharp 'whip crack' (which gives the species its common name), and ending with a few additional follow-on notes. This call is one of the most distinctive sounds of the eastern Australian bush. The call is typically a duet between a mated male and female: the male produces the opening long note and the whip crack, while the female adds the following closing notes. Calls are most frequent in the early morning, though they can occur throughout the day, with small activity peaks at noon and sunset. While male calls are consistent across the entire range of the species, researchers have recorded a high degree of variation in female calls. Recorded samples of the eastern whipbird's call have been used in many films, including the 1983 Bush Christmas and the 1982 The Dark Crystal. The eastern whipbird inhabits wet temperate forests, including both rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests, and is generally found close to water. Its range extends from eastern Victoria northward through to central Queensland. A northern subspecies, Psophodes olivaceus lateralis, sometimes referred to as the northern whipbird, lives in the wet tropics of North Queensland, between Cooktown and Townsville. At least one study has identified the eastern whipbird as a habitat specialist that is threatened by urbanisation.
