The Rufous Whistler is a small, boldly patterned songbird found across much of Australia, including New South Wales, where it inhabits woodland, forest edges and scrub.
Males are striking, with a black head and throat, white breast band and rich rufous underparts, while females are browner and less contrasting but still show warm tones below.
Often heard before it is seen, the Rufous Whistler is known for its clear, ringing and varied song delivered from an exposed perch. Feeding mainly on insects and small invertebrates, it is an active and confident presence in open bushland habitats.
Photographed in Taronga Zoo, NSW