White-throated Fiji whistler explained

The white-throated Fiji whistler (Pachycephala vitiensis) is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae, endemic to islands in southern Fiji. It was formerly considered to be conspecific with the yellow-throated Fiji whistler (Pachycephala graeffii). Before the split the combined species were known as the "Fiji whistler".

Taxonomy and systematics

It was variably considered a subspecies of a widespread golden whistler (P. pectoralis).^{[1] [2]} Three of the subspecies of the former white-throated whistler (P. v. kandavensis, lauana, and vitiensis) were lumped with the Fiji whistler in 2014 by the IOC.^[3] The Temotu whistler was formerly considered conspecific with the Fiji whistler.

Three subspecies are recognised:^[4]

• P. v. kandavensis Ramsay, EP, 1876 – Beqa (south of Viti Levu) and Kadavu Island and satellites (southwest Fiji, southwest Polynesia)
• P. v. lauana Mayr, 1932 – south Lau Islands (southeast Fiji, southwest Polynesia)
• P. v. vitiensis Gray, GR, 1860 – Gau (central Fiji, southwest Polynesia)

Notes and References

1. Boles, W. E. (2007). Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis). pp. 421–423 in: del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie, D. eds (2007). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
2. http://worldbirdnames.org IOC World Bird List, version 1.7
3. IOC World Bird List 4.4. IOC World Bird List Datasets. 10.14344/ioc.ml.4.4. free.
4. Web site: Gill . Frank . Frank Gill (ornithologist) . Donsker . David . Rasmussen . Pamela . Pamela C. Rasmussen . August 2024 . Whiteheads, sittellas, Ploughbill, Australo-Papuan bellbirds, Shriketit, whistlers . IOC World Bird List Version 14.2 . International Ornithologists' Union . 20 September 2024 .