The mangrove whistler is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae found in South-east Asia.
Region
Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs along coasts and estuaries from the Malay Peninsula through Sumatra, Borneo, Java, and nearby islands, with scattered populations in parts of Indochina. It is strongly associated with mangrove forests, including Rhizophora and Avicennia stands, as well as nipa palm thickets and back-mangrove scrub. Birds may also use adjacent coastal woodland edges and degraded mangroves where some canopy persists. It keeps to low to mid-levels in the vegetation, moving deliberately among branches and tangles.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 100 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This unobtrusive whistler is closely tied to coastal mangrove forests and often reveals itself by its clear, ringing whistles before it is seen. It forages methodically through foliage and bark for insects, often in pairs or small family groups. Ongoing loss and degradation of mangroves can affect local populations, making habitat protection important.
P. c. cinerea from Sundarban, India.
Temperament
quiet, shy, and often skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between perches
Social Behavior
Typically seen singly or in pairs, maintaining small territories in suitable mangrove patches. During the breeding season, pairs build a neat cup nest placed in a fork or suspended over water in dense mangrove foliage. Both adults share incubation and feeding of the young. Outside breeding, small family groups may forage together.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Clear, fluty whistles delivered in short phrases, often repeated from a semi-concealed perch. Calls include sharper contact notes and soft scolds while foraging.
Plumage
Subtly colored with a gray head and nape, olive-brown upperparts, and pale whitish underparts often washed buff on the flanks. Wings and tail are darker with faint pale edging. The throat is pale, contrasting with slightly darker lores and a weak facial mask.
Diet
Primarily feeds on insects and other small arthropods such as beetles, caterpillars, and spiders. It gleans from leaves, twigs, and bark, occasionally sallying a short distance to snatch prey. Foraging is deliberate and methodical, with frequent pauses to scan. It may take small fruits opportunistically but animal prey dominates.
Preferred Environment
Most frequently forages within mangrove mid-canopy and along inner edges near tidal creeks. It also works along trunks and outer foliage where sunlight draws insect activity. In disturbed sites, it uses secondary growth adjacent to intact mangroves.
