Southern Whiteface — Australian Bird Identification Guide

Bird guideSouthern Whiteface

Inhabits drier open woodlands and shrublands in southern Australia, where often forages on the ground in small flocks.

⚠️Vulnerable

🌿Endemic to Australia

🍃Indigenous: Western Whiteface, White-Faced Squeaker, White-Faced Titmouse, Squeaker, Whiteface, Eastern Whiteface, Chestnut-Bellied Whiteface

At a glance

FamilyThornbills and Allies

SizeTiny

RarityCommon

HabitatInhabits drier open woodlands and shrublands in southern Australia, where often forages on the ground in small flocks.

Best timeMost reliable in New South Wales from August to October.

Sounds

Sound sample

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Recorded by Marc Anderson

Range map

Occurrence window

200approx hotspots

29778approx records

5states

Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Small bird with stubby bill. Upperparts grayish brown, underparts whitish, with varying amounts of reddish-brown tone in flanks. White upperparts extend above the bill, hence the name.

Behavior

The marked difference in the size and shape of the whiteface beak compared with that of the scrubtit has been attributed to an increased dietary intake of seeds, requiring a more robust bill. This species displays the characteristic facial markings of the genus; a white band across the forehead, with a darker streak along the top edge. Call is a rapid, noisy twittering tchip-tchip-chiptchipt-chipt-chip or tzip-tzip-tziptzip and a harsher kzzurrk, kzzurrk-kzzurrk in alarm.

Gallery