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Eastern WhipbirdAlternative name: "Coachwhip-bird*" Size: 25-30 cm |
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Habitat |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
Eastern Whipbirds populate the east coast of the Australian continent and the eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range. Nominate race "olivaceus" occurs from Melbourne, VIC, in the south to Eungella National Park, QLD, in the north. Throughout northern VIC and all of NSW they occasionally venture out onto the western side of the Great Dividing Range. Race "lateralis" is found in the tablelands of northern QLD, from Atherton to about Charters Towers.
Eastern Whipbirds are usually found in dense, wet forest, including rainforest, mostly in the dense understorey (but note the exception given below where there is almost no understorey). Also found in dense, low coastal growth, e.g. in dense, often banksia-dominated thickets.
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Sightings |
We have spotted many Eastern Whipbirds in the rainforests of Dorrigo National Park and Iluka Nature Reserve in north-east NSW during visits, mostly in wintertime. In January 2011 they were notably more quiet at Dorrigo NP than during previous visits. Although a few calls could be heard, it was in general difficult to find Eastern Whipbirds then. This observation includes the fact that we also heard only one pair foraging through the underbrush, where during previous visits we were able to locate many birds that way.
Also spotted by C. Kellenberg at Depot Beach, Murramarang National Park, NSW, in February 2009.
Spotted by us also in dense bushland in national parks near the NSW central coast in June 2009 and in various national parks in southern and central Queensland in July 2009. The furthest west we have found Eastern Whipbirds is Bunya Mountains NP, QLD and Mt. Walsh NP, QLD.
We have found Eastern Whipbirds at Wingham Brush Nature Reserve in September 2011.
Obtaining photos is difficult, because they stay in the dense underbrush, in dark conditions.
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Photos |
Backside of an adult Eastern Whipbird
Immature Eastern Whipbird in the underbrush of rainforest
in Dorrigo NP
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Sedentary | Elementary unit: Pair |
The Eastern Whipbirds observed by us at Wingham Brush Nature Reserve behaved differently compared to their cousins at Dorrigo NP: In the absence of dense underbrush they stayed in the tree tops almost all the time.
View of the underside of an Eastern Whipbird high up in a tree top
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Food |
Eastern Whipbirds forage in the leaf litter of dense forests for insects. However, where necessary they appear to find food in tree tops as well (see above).
