White-breasted Parrotbill

A small passerine bird with black-and-white plumage. The head, upperparts, and tail are black. The sides of the neck and underparts are white. The wing shows a prominent white slash, and the outer tail feathers are white. The bill is black and the upper mandible is hooked at the tip. Usually found in mixed-species foraging flocks, feeding on insects in the mid-canopy by hawking prey in mid-air like flycatchers, hence the name. Inhabits a wide range of forested habitats. Song is a sweet-sounding series of bouncing notes: “tsilikee-tsilikee-tsilikee!”

Medium-sized, long-tailed, plain cisticola. Note the rufous cap and the white tip to the tail. The tail is slightly shorter in non-breeding plumage. Found locally in a variety of savanna habitats, including both acacia savanna and broadleaf woodland. The song is a quick, high-pitched piping. As with other cisticolas, habitat and vocalizations are important to identification. Similar to Rock-loving Cisticola, but smaller, slimmer, and not associated with rocky habitat. Somewhat like Siffling Cisticola, but has a rufous cap.

A small bird with a long tail that is held cocked. Breeding males are mostly black with red back and rump. Nonbreeding males and females are extremely similar—both are pale brownish birds with brown tails. Their plumage has a warmer, browner tone than female Superb Fairywren. Red-backed Fairywrens are found in grasslands, swamps, and areas with long grass around tropical northern Australia and around the east coast into northern New South Wales.