Forages on the ground in small flocks; also perches on fence lines and on the top of small bushes.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
Indigenous: Black-Banded Squeaker, Black-Banded Whiteface
At a glance
FamilyThornbills and Allies
SizeTiny
RarityUncommon
HabitatSmall bird with stubby bill, found in arid open areas across inland central and western Australia.
Best timeMost reliable in Northern Territory from June to September.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Gregor Smith
Range map
Range map
672visible hotspots
2475visible records
4states
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
It is endemic to dryer regions of Australia . The ornithologist Alfred John North described the banded whiteface as Xerophila nigricincta in 1895, from specimens collected at Missionary Plains, Northern Territory.
Behavior
Call is a soft warbling whistle.
Gallery
Regional timing
Northern Territory
Western Australia
South Australia
Queensland
New South Wales
Commonly confused with
Slaty-backed ThornbillAcanthiza robustirostrisBrownish gray above, cream-colored below, with dark eye, dark streaking on forecrown, pale lores, pale-tipped dark tail, and chestnut rump, often visible in flight. Distinguished from juvenile Chestnut-rumped Thornbill (which also has dark eyes) by noting the dark streaks on Slaty-backed’s forehead.→Chestnut-breasted WhitefaceAphelocephala pectoralisCompare this bird carefully in the field→Rufous FieldwrenCalamanthus campestrisSmall bird of open arid shrubland and grasslands. Pale brown above, whitish below, with distinct pale supercilium, faint chest streaking, and long, cocked tail. Similar to Western Fieldwren but no range overlap. Compare Shy Heathwren, which has a white wing spot and darker legs.→