Chestnut-breasted Whiteface

1. Broad chestnut breast band separated from white belly

2. Off-white face with thin black border

3. Found only on stony gibber plains and chenopod shrublands of central South Australia

These birds feed mainly on seeds and insects, foraging on the ground and sometimes joining mixed flocks with other small desert birds. Breeding occurs after good rains, mainly from August to September. They build bulky, dome-shaped nests with a side entrance in low shrubs, lining the nest with feathers. Females typically lay 2 eggs per clutch, and both parents are likely involved in incubation and care of the young. Their soft, twittering calls are relatively quiet, possibly an adaptation to open desert habitats where sound carries far.

Chestnut-breasted Whitefaces inhabit elevated stony plains and gibber tablelands around Coober Pedy, Oodnadatta, and Mount Lyndhurst in central South Australia. They favour open areas with scattered perennial shrubs such as Low Bluebush, saltbush, and Eremophila, avoiding densely vegetated creek lines. Usually seen in pairs or small groups, they forage on the ground, often flying low to nearby bushes when disturbed.