Australia
SpeciesField NotesLog inDownload

Field notes

Stay in the loop

Get updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

By subscribing, I agree to receive BirdUp Australia updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

Australia
Download for iOSDownload for AndroidSpeciesField NotesRSSNewsletterBrandPrivacyTerms

BirdUp Australia Pty Ltd © 2026. Made in Australia for Australian birders.

  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Acanthizidae
  4. ›
  5. Aphelocephala
  6. ›
  7. Southern Whiteface
Southern Whiteface
Photo · (c) Rolf Lawrenz, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Southern Whiteface

Aphelocephala leucopsis(Gould, 1841)

Updated 21 March 2026

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Acanthizidae
Genus
Aphelocephala

At a glance

The Southern Whiteface is a tiny bird, about 11–13 cm long, listed as Least Concern and endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
11–13 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Southern Whiteface look like?

The Southern Whiteface is a tiny bird, about 11–13 cm long and weighing 4–16 g.

The southern whiteface is a small passerine found in arid regions across most of the southern half of the Australian continent, excluding Tasmania. Superficially finch-like in appearance, this insectivorous bird is relatively common throughout most of its range, however, overall populations appear to be in decline.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
11–13 cm
Weight
4.3–16 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Southern Whiteface?

The Southern Whiteface is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Southern Whiteface eat?

The Southern Whiteface feeds on seeds and terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

The BirdUp app

Log your next Southern Whiteface in the field

A pocket field journal for 850+ Australian birds. Offline-first, smart ID, and a lifelist that travels with you.

Get the appRead field notes
Spotted something wrong on this page? Report incorrect info

02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Southern Whiteface live in Australia?

The Southern Whiteface is endemic to Australia, recorded across 53 of Australia’s bioregions, with a core range spanning west, central and south Australia.

BreedingWest, central and south Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Vagrant

8 regions recorded