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General Information
Description: The Eastern
Whipbird is common around our school. We sometimes hear them in the bushland
behind the school but while their loud whipping call is a familiar sound,
the birds are difficult to see as they forage in the dense undergrowth. They
have a dark olive-green body, black head, small black crest, a broad white
patch on the side of the face and a long tail. The eye is pale cream
and the bill is black. The birds grow to between 26 and 30 cm long. Young
Whipbirds are generally duller, with a smaller crest. The white cheek patch
is missing in very young birds, and gets bigger as the birds become older.
 Voice:
The
Eastern Whipbird makes
a loud whip crack call. The call of the Whipbird is usually a combined
effort. it starts with a thin piercing whistle and whipcrack and then
its partner will add several sharp chirrups. Some people believe that the
call is started by the male and finished by the female, but it may be the
other way round
Habitat: The
Eastern Whipbird lives in thickets and the margins of rainforests and in
wet eucalypt forests. They live in thick vegetation near the ground. They
prefer wetter areas, such as rainforest, eucalypt forest and dense scrub
near watercourses. The birds are usually secretive, but are also quite
curious, and will often come into view if the observer remains patient. The
Eastern Whipbird remains in the same area all year round and they range from
Northern Queensland south to Victoria in a band along the coast. In the
north, where land has been cleared there are not as many birds to be found.
Food:
Although the
Eastern Whipbird spends most of its time on or near the ground, it
often is seen feeding among debris caught in foliage or vines, sometimes 10m
or more above the ground. It feeds on insects and other small invertebrates,
which they catch on the ground with their bill. The Whipbird feeds alone, or
in pairs or small family groups.
Breeding:
Eastern Whipbirds breed from July to December. The male and female have
their own territory which they defend all year round. The mates stay
together for many years. The female lines her nest with finer grasses. The
nest is shaped like a cup and made of sticks and bark which she has
collected and placed in dense vegetation near the ground. The female lays
two to three eggs, which hatch after 18 days. Both male and female feed the
young birds which remain in the nest for about 12 days. Sometimes two lots
of chicks are raised in one season.
Reference: Information - Australian Museum Fact Sheet
http://www.austmus.gov.au/factsheets/eastern_whipbird.htm
Photo
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© R. Major
Some information and pictures were taken from children's charts and
where credited to that child does not claim to be original information.
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