April, 1945 
The Queensland Naturalist 
95 
has been heard. No suggestion is being made that the 
Rufous-breast should be added to the already long list of 
mimics. This similarity to the notes of other species is 
merely accidental and a phase of the developing song*. 
As Iris name implies, the note of the Rufous-breast is 
a whistle. At times, the simple “swee-it” of the Rufous- 
breast (and also the Golden) has quite a human flavour 
about it. At his best, the Rufous Whistler can give vent to 
a brilliant outburst, unequalled among Australian song- 
birds. A clap of thunder, or a loud explosion may supply 
the particular stimulus (a habit peculiar to species of 
Pachycephala ) , while at other times the song is just spon- 
taneous, or, as is often the case, a reply to the female, 
young, or another male. 
“Witchee witchee witchee witchee!” he cries, or 
“witchee witchoo witchee witchoo ! ’ ’ given fortissimo and 
with all the vigour of which the male is capable. There 
are many variations, “wittee chooee wittee chooee!” or 
“chee witchee chee witchee!’’ or ‘ ‘ chirr ee chirree!” or 
“chickoo chickoo chickoo!” A characteristic habit, that 
of rocking himself excitedly across his perch, often accom- 
panies this outburst. Often a murmured “wee-a-nit wee- 
a-nit!” precedes the whistling note as though the singer 
were winding himself up to greater efforts. 
Often found in family parties of a male, female and 
one or two young, the Rufous-breast sings vigorously into 
June and early July, but generally inclement weather, rain, 
or westerly winds, quietens him down in July and early 
August, The young males, some semi-coloured, and others 
now showing the full adult plumage, which takes at least 
two years to develop, begin to seek out territory and mates 
and early evidence of the springtime migration now begins 
to manifest itself among the feathered community. Sing- 
ing males are often heard passing through the town and 
suburban areas and the town dweller, who has ears for 
that sort of thing, may hear the happy springtime melody 
of the Rufous-breast among the branches of the Camphor 
Laurel and Jacaranda tree. Many pairs are nesting by 
August and all who have been fortunate enough to find 
territory and mates have settled clown to home building 
by September. Just how far the meanderings of the male 
bird, in his quest for a mate and nesting site, take him is 
impossible to estimate with any degree of certainty. The 
female also, is anything but the mere passive creature that 
early naturalists would have us believe she is. The Rufous 
