Photo: Ron Knight / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Southern Whiteface
Aphelocephala leucopsis
Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis) is a member of the Acanthizidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 12.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Acanthizidae Australasian Warblers
- Genus Aphelocephala
- Species leucopsis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Acanthizidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Southern Whiteface is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Southern Whiteface is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis) belongs to the Acanthizidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU w, c, s Australia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12.3 g, with a wing length of about 6 cm and a tail of around 4.4 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Southern Whiteface?
The Southern Whiteface is a very small bird that weighs around 12.3 g.
Where does the Southern Whiteface live?
The Southern Whiteface is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU w, c, s Australia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Southern Whiteface belong to?
The Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis) belongs to the Acanthizidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Southern Whiteface eat?
The Southern Whiteface is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Southern Whiteface migrate?
The Southern Whiteface is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Southern Whiteface endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Southern Whiteface make?
1 real field recording of the Southern Whiteface — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Southern Whiteface's range?
The Southern Whiteface has a mapped global range of about 3.7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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