Sclater's whistler 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 subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
Region
New Guinea Highlands
Typical Environment
Occurs along the central mountain spine of New Guinea, occupying subtropical and tropical moist montane forests and adjacent mossy forests. It frequents midstory and understory layers, often along ridges, forest edges, and in secondary growth near primary forest. Birds forage within dense foliage and occasionally descend to lower, wetter gullies. It is generally absent from open lowlands but can occur in foothill forest where suitable cover persists.
Altitude Range
800–2800 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Sclater's whistler is part of the golden whistler complex, a group with many closely related forms across Australasia. It is named after the British zoologist Philip Sclater. Pairs defend territories in the New Guinea highlands and are often heard before they are seen thanks to clear, ringing whistles.
Temperament
shy and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically found singly or in pairs within defended territories. Forms monogamous pairs during the breeding season, building a small cup nest concealed in midstory vegetation. Both adults attend the nest and feed the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of clear, ringing whistles, often repeated in steady phrases from a mid-canopy perch. Calls include soft chips and sharper contact notes given while foraging.
Plumage
Compact whistler with olive-green upperparts and yellow to yellow-olive underparts; head gray-olive with a diffuse, paler throat. Female is duller and browner with more subdued yellow below. Plumage lacks the bold black-and-white mask of some other golden whistlers, giving an overall soft, mossy appearance.
Diet
Feeds primarily on insects and other small arthropods gleaned from leaves, twigs, and bark. It inspects hanging dead leaves, moss clumps, and vine tangles and may sally short distances to snatch prey. Small amounts of fruit are sometimes taken, especially when insects are less abundant.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the shaded midstory and understory of montane and mossy forests, particularly along edges and gaps where prey is more accessible. Also uses secondary growth adjacent to intact forest.
