Brown-backed Whistler (Pachycephala modesta)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Brown-backed Whistler

Pachycephala modesta (De Vis, 1894)

18 gWeight

The brown-backed whistler (Pachycephala modesta) is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae endemic to Papua New Guinea.

Busiest months: July · Most records: Papua New Guinea

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Brown-backed Whistler has been recorded at 10 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 1 country or region.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Kumul LodgePapua New Guinea204 records
  2. Highlands Hwy – above Ambua Lodge to Tari GapPapua New Guinea124 records
  3. Ambua LodgePapua New Guinea102 records
More places
  1. Tari GapPapua New Guinea92 records
  2. Mt Komonge RidgePapua New Guinea91 records
  3. Rondon RidgePapua New Guinea75 records
  4. Rondon Ridge LodgePapua New Guinea48 records
  5. Tomba & Murmur Pass [2400-2800m]Papua New Guinea39 records
  6. Tonga TrailPapua New Guinea2 records
  7. Varirata National ParkPapua New Guinea1 record

Countries and regions with the most records

Papua New Guinea

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The brown-backed whistler (Pachycephala modesta) is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae endemic to Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It features a grey head, brown upperparts, a white throat and off-white underparts with a greyish chest wash.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Brown-backed Whistler?

The Brown-backed Whistler weighs around 18 g.

Where does the Brown-backed Whistler live?

Its breeding range: Australasia: montane central, eastern New Guinea. It is most often recorded in Papua New Guinea.

When is the best time to see the Brown-backed Whistler?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in July (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Brown-backed Whistler endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Brown-backed Whistler as Least Concern.

What does the Brown-backed Whistler eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Brown-backed Whistler in?

It belongs to the family Whistlers & Allies (Pachycephalidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Weight
18 g
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
84 mm
Tail
62 mm
Bill
15 mm
Tarsus
23 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Australasia: montane central, eastern New Guinea

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Whistlers & Allies Pachycephalidae
Genus
Pachycephala

Other birds in the genus Pachycephala

Olive WhistlerOlive WhistlerPachycephala olivaceaRed-lored WhistlerRed-lored WhistlerPachycephala rufogularisGilbert's WhistlerGilbert's WhistlerPachycephala inornataMangrove WhistlerMangrove WhistlerPachycephala cinereaGreen-backed WhistlerGreen-backed WhistlerPachycephala albiventrisWhite-vented WhistlerWhite-vented WhistlerPachycephala homeyeriIsland WhistlerIsland WhistlerPachycephala phaionotaBiak WhistlerBiak WhistlerPachycephala melanorhynchaRusty WhistlerRusty WhistlerPachycephala hyperythraYellow-bellied WhistlerYellow-bellied WhistlerPachycephala philippinensisSulphur-vented WhistlerSulphur-vented WhistlerPachycephala sulfuriventerBornean WhistlerBornean WhistlerPachycephala hypoxantha
Brown-backed Whistler

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Nik Borrow. ↗

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