Eastern Whipbird

The song of the Eastern Whipbird (Psophodes olivaceus) is one of the most iconic sounds of the forests of eastern Australia. Although the birds themselves often remain hidden in the undergrowth, their sharp, whipcrack-like calls are loud and distinctive.

What does an Eastern Whipbird sound like? Songs are often a duet between a pair of birds – the male makes the initial whistle and whipcrack call, followed by a response of 1-4 notes by the female. It has been documented that immature birds will often give both the whipcrack and response while learning their song.

Apart from the classic ‘whipcrack’ song, Eastern Whipbirds make a variety of other sounds including harsh bubbly chattering and rasping calls.