The black-chinned whistler (Pachycephala mentalis) is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae, endemic to Halmahera and adjacent smaller islands in North Maluku in Indonesia.
Taxonomy and systematics It is variably considered a subspecies of the Australian golden whistler or treated as a separate species, but strong published evidence in favour of either treatment is limited, and further study is warranted to resolve the complex taxonomic situation.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.
Subspecies Three subspecies are recognized: Pachycephala mentalis tidorensis – van Bemmel, 1939: Found on Tidore and Ternate islands Pachycephala mentalis mentalis – Wallace, 1863: Found on Bacan, Halmahera and Morotai islands Pachycephala mentalis obiensis – Salvadori, 1878: Originally described as a separate species. Found on Obi Islands (Obi and Bisa)
Description The black-chinned whistler is the northernmost member of the golden whistler group, being bordered to the south by the yellow-throated whistler. The black-chinned whistler is relatively large, and males are white-throated, have an incomplete black chest-band (only distinct in the center of the chest; does not connect to the black head) and a small black chin (lacking in Obi Islands).
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