Kingdom Animalia Class Aves Family Pachycephalidae Scientific name Pachycephala orioloides | Phylum Chordata Order Passeriformes Genus Pachycephala Rank Species | |
Similar Yellow‑throated whistler, Rusty‑breasted whistler, Fiji whistler, Melanesian whistler, Tongan whistler | ||
The oriole whistler (Pachycephala orioloides), also known as the yellow-throated whistler (leading to easy confusion with Pachycephala macrorhyncha), is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae, which is endemic to the Solomon Islands, and the islands of Bougainville and Buka east of New Guinea.
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Taxonomy and systematics
It is variably considered a subspecies of a widespread golden whistler (P. pectoralis) or treated as a separate species, but strong published evidence in favour of either treatment is limited, and further study is warranted to resolve the complex taxonomic situation. Even if not recognized as a separate species, the oriole whistler includes several very different subspecies, though the males are united by their yellow throat.
Subspecies
Nine subspecies are recognized:
Distribution
The oriole whistler is found throughout the Solomons, except in the Santa Cruz Islands.