Green-backed whistler

Green-backed whistler
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Pachycephalidae
Genus:	Pachycephala
Species:	P. albiventris
Binomial name
Pachycephala albiventris (Ogilvie-Grant, 1894)
Subspecies
See text
Synonyms
Hyloterpe albiventris Pachycephala grisola albiventris

The green-backed whistler (Pachycephala albiventris) or olive-backed whistler, is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest.

EBird describes the bird as "A fairly small bird of forest from the lowlands to middle elevations in the mountains. Olive-green on the head, back, wings, and tail. Gray on the chest with a slightly streaked throat, a whitish belly, and pale yellow under the base of the tail. Note the fairly thick bill. Similar to Ashy-breasted Flycatcher, but smaller, with a thicker bill. Song is a typical whistler-like melody including some explosive, upslurred “whip!” or downslurred “piuu!” notes."^[2] Formerly, some authorities considered the green-backed whistler to be a subspecies of the mangrove whistler.

Three subspecies are recognized:^[3]

• P. a. albiventris – (Ogilvie-Grant, 1894): Found on northern Luzon (Philippines)
• P. a. crissalis – (Zimmer, JT, 1918): Originally described as a separate species. Found on central and southern Luzon (Philippines)
• P. a. mindorensis – (Bourns & Worcester, 1894): Originally described as a separate species. Found on Mindoro (Philippines)

Forages in the understory for insects and often joins mixed-species flocks Blue-headed fantail, Little pied flycatcher, Turquoise flycatcher, Negros leaf warbler and other small birds. ^[4]

Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest up to 2,000 meters above sea level although this species seems to be more common in higher altittudes. The IUCN has classified the species as being of Least Concern where it is said to be locally common. A large portion of its montane habitat to remain intact than lowland forest. However, there it is still affected by habitat loss through deforestation, mining, land conversion and slash-and-burn.

It is found in multiple protected areas such as Mount Banahaw, Mount Makiling, Mount Isarog and Mounts Iglit–Baco Natural Park but like all areas in the Philippines protection is lax and deforestation continues despite this protection on paper. ^[5]