Eastern Whipbird
Psophodes olivaceus
About This Species
A shy inhabitant of dense understorey in eastern Australian rainforest and wet forest, this species is best known for its extraordinary duetting call, a sharp whip-crack followed by a partner's rapid reply, often heard well before the bird is seen. Patience near thick ground cover along forest edges and gullies is usually rewarded with a glimpse as it forages on the leaf litter. Early morning in spring, when pairs are most vocal, is the most reliable time to listen for it.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Remain still and quiet at a distance rather than pushing into dense understorey to get closer, since this species is easily driven deeper into cover and rarely tolerates close approach.
- Wildlife protection laws in Australia generally prohibit disturbing native birds at nest sites, and native vegetation in the reserves it favours is often itself protected, so staying on established tracks is both courteous and often required.
- Because it forages and nests low to the ground, avoid leaving trails through leaf litter or undergrowth.
LCAvesPasseriformesPsophodidae
Seasonal Activity
384,493 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Psophodidae
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.