There are 19 sub-species of Rufous Fantail, two of which are distributed in the east and south-east of Australia while the others are found on South Pacific islands. They inhabit forest and woodland, coastal scrub and riverside vegetation.

It is a very attractive bird with its rufous forecrown, immaculate white chin and throat and black breast with white scaling on the lower breast. The long tail has a broad rufous band at the base and whitish tips.