Whipbird

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AUSTRALIAN SAIJIKI

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Whipbird

***** Location: Australia
***** Season: Non-seasonal Topic
***** Category: Animal

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Explanation

Whipbird ~ Psophodes olivaceus
Eastern Whipbird



The Eastern Whipbird (Psophodes olivaceus) inhabits the east coast of Australia from northern Queensland to Victoria.It is about 26 to 30 cm long. It is olive green with a black head and a white patch on its face.

The whip bird is usually shy, and is heard much more often than seen. Its long drawn out call - a long note, followed by a "whip crack" (which is the source of their name) and some follow on notes - is one of the most distinctive sounds of the eastern Australian wet temperate forest.

The call is usually a duet between the male and female, the male producing the long note and whip crack and female the following notes.

The breeding season is from July to December. The nest is placed on or near the ground and is made of sticks, bark and lined with grass. The clutch size is from 2 to 3 eggs. The female incubates the eggs which hatch in about 18 days. Both parents tend the young which fledge in about 12 days. There are sometimes two broods raised in a season.
© Wikipedia

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The initial long "whip" sound is the male calling. The short high-pitched two-note call at the very end is the female answering. These birds live mainly in rainforest areas; wetter eucalypt forests/woodlands; coastal scrubland; bracken; blackberries; lantana and overgrown gardens. They hop through the undergrowth probing rotten wood and throwing leaves aside looking for food (usually insects).
© http://home.iprimus.com.au/punkclown/Punkclown/Whipbird.htm

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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way


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HAIKU

dawn . . .
the cry of a whipbird
cuts through the mist

Richard Kay

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distant thunder
the whipbird's call
hangs in the air

Sue Mill, Brisbane, AU


open car window
whipbird's call lashes
my ear drum

Janice Bostok


crack
crack of a whipbird's call
the stillness

John Bird, AU

Compiled by Larry Bole


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Related words

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The Australian Saijiki

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