Norfolk Island Golden Whistlers
Norfolk Island Golden Whistlers (Pachycephala pectoralis xanthoprocta)
Description
Males of the Norfolk Island subspecies differ from those of other subspecies in lacking the bright yellow, white and black markings and being similar to the females, though somewhat yellower. Relative to most other subspecies it is smaller, with a longer tail and heavier bill.
Distribution and habitat
The whistler is restricted to Norfolk Island, where it is largely confined to the Mt Pitt section of the Norfolk Island National Park and remnant wooded areas within 2 km of the park. It inhabits shrubby understorey in subtropical rainforest, palm forest and Norfolk Island Pines, as well as in regenerating forest. It also visits gardens.
Status and conservation
After a period of decline during the 1960s and 1970s, the population of the Norfolk Island Golden Whistler was estimated in 2005 at 535 breeding pairs. Ongoing threats include habitat degradation and predation by Black Rats and feral cats. It is considered Vulnerable because of the restricted size of the population and area of its distribution. Ongoing conservation management actions include control of rats and feral cats to minimise predation as well as control of invasive weeds to minimise habitat degradation. It is proposed to reintroduce the whistler to nearby Phillip Island when the regenerating habitat there is suitable.
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