[3] The Australian rufous fantail is easily distinguished by their orange-reddish-brown back, rump and base of tail.

[6] The Australian rufous fantail tends to feed on small insects in the lower parts of the canopy.

[4] Although their population is thought to be declining, their relatively large range and abundance make them a species of least concern according to the IUCN.

Debate is still currently ongoing about the taxonomic treatment of the Australian rufous fantail's subspecies and its related species.

[3] The Australian rufous fantail was first described by Latham in his 1801 work, Index Ornithologicus initially as Muscicapa rufifrons.

Within the genus it belongs to a group of five closely related species: R. rufidorsa, R. brachyrhyncha, R. dahli, R. teysmanni and R. dryas.

A molecular phylogeny study showed the Arafura fantail (Rhipidura dryas) to be its closest relative.

All are part of a larger species group that also includes R. teysmanni, R. superflua, R. dedemi, R. opistherythra, R. lepida, R. rufidorsa, R. dahli, R. matthiae and R.

[11] R. rufidorsa R. brachyrhyncha R. dahli R. teysmanni R. dryas R.rufifrons The current spatial distribution suggests an ancestry originating in the Papuan region, most likely New Guinea.

[4] However, compared to the adults, the juveniles have generally duller coloured backs and marginally browner tails and underparts.

[4] Its diagnostic physical features: orange-reddish-brown back, rump and base of tail – easily differentiate it from other fantails.

[4] Moreover, it can be further distinguished from similar fantails as it tends to forage in shady and moist regions of habitats that are close to the ground.

[4] The Australian rufous fantail can be found in parts of Australia, southeast Asia, and in the Oceanic regions of Micronesia and Melanesia.

[11] Australian rufous fantails will generally occupy the lower levels of their habitat, the understorey or the subcanopy, straying no further than 6 m from the ground.

[4][15] They are usually observed flitting about in the lower layers of their habitat, in close association with the shade, making short, frequent flights separated by brief moments of perching and sometimes hopping between foliage or onto the ground.

[19] Their breeding sites are mainly in rainforest regions or sheltered, humid gullies[5] with an abundance of dense cover such as trees, saplings, shrubs and vines.

[17] The nest, will usually be built at the fork between two nearly horizontal tree branches in proximity to a water source, such as a stream.

[15] The nest is built, usually in November, December and January,[15] using thin strips of tree bark, grass, moss rootlets and decayed wood.

[16] Both the males and the females give (frequently alternating) parental care,[16] which includes: feeding their nestlings and removing their faecal sacs from the nest.

[17] They migrate to south-eastern Australia in the spring to breed, beginning in September, peaking in October,[5] and then north in the autumn during March and April.

[19] These usually comprise other small Passerine birds[2] such as: the spectacled monarch, the little shrikethrush, the large-billed scrubwren and less occasionally, the green-backed honeyeater.

[26] Once a prey is located, they will pursue it by exhibiting extremely agile and maneuverable flight within the canopy (by salling, flush-pursuit or flutter-chase).

[21] Logging decreases breeding habitat and increases the risk of fragmentation, particularly if these forests are in migration routes.