It was exciting to see this pretty little bird and hear its call. This is the first time I’ve seen a Golden Whistler, though my bird book says they’re common. This one is a male, brightly coloured with clearly-delineated yellow, black, and white patches. Its song ripples through the forest.

In this video, the Golden Whistler makes a brief appearance and utters its call. Off stage, a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo squawks, and the Golden Whistler dives for cover:

Here’s a still shot of the bird. My apologies for the fuzziness – the bird was high up and far away, and my camera lens is on maximum zoom. The moon-shaped white patch is the white throat of the bird:

Here’s another brief video of the bird calling before he darts off again:

In the next video, the Golden Whistler enters from the right and has his say. The shot is taken with a lower zoom, so there’s more chance to stay with the bird:

The last video doesn’t show the bird, but you can hear its call and enjoy a general view of the forest, including some fungus growing on a dead tree trunk. The Golden Whistler’s call is slightly different from the earlier videos:

Common name: Golden Whistler

Scientific name: Pachycephala pectoralis

Approximate length: 16-18 cm

Date spotted: 24 August 2019 (late winter)

Location: Manly Dam Reserve, New South Wales, Australia: 33°46’48.6″S 151°14’52.3″E