Mangrove Whistler

This species is defined as a rarity. Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page.

Scientific Name: Pachycephala cinerea
Malay Name: Murai-Siul Bakau
Chinese Name: 红树啸鹟

Range:
Found from the Indian subcontinent to South-East Asia,.

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: cinerea, plateni.

Local Subspecies: cinerea

Size: 15.5-17 cm

Identification:
Told apart from other similarly sized flycatchers by thick black bill, no obvious head/wing markings or rufous tones in plumage. Drab brown upperparts with slaty grey crown, white underparts with duller throat and greyish washed breast. Song is distinct.

Habitat: Mangroves and adjacent coastal vegetation. Also local plantations and wooded gardens, island forest, local freshwater swamp forest and similar vegetation inland.

Behaviour/Ecology: Unobtrusive and rather inactive. Sits still for long period amongst foliage.

Local Status: Rare resident.

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Past accepted records in our database: (not a complete listing)

Photos:

Mangrove Whistler. Photo Credit: Con Foley
Mangrove Whistler at Pulau Hantu on 11 May 2014. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Mangrove Whistler at Pulau Hantu. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Mangrove Whistler at Pulau Hantu. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Mangrove Whistler at Pulau Hantu. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Mangrove Whistler at Changi Reclaimed Land on 31 January 2015. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Mangrove Whistler at Pulau Tekong on 16 Dec 2012. Photo Credit: Lim Kim Chuah

External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Photos: Oriental Bird Images
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Mangrove Whistler)

References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Pachycephala cinerea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. Downloaded on 2 September 2021

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.