The derivation of the generic name Epthianura is obscure, coming either from the Ancient Greek ephthos 'refined' or ephthinaō 'wasting away' and oura 'tail' (referring to the "short and truncated tail").

From its distinctive call were derived the names (banded) tintack, gar and tang, and the males' resemblance to a nun's habit led to the name (white-fronted) nun, and similarly moonface, moonbird, baldyhead, baldy, ringneck, ringlet and singlebar also come from its appearance.

[10][11] The female has grey-brown upperparts and white or pale grey underparts with a fainter blackish-brown breast band.

[10][11] The contact call, a metallic tang sound given in flight at irregular intervals, has been likened to the twanging of a rubber band.

[6][9] Its preferred habitat is open country with low vegetation, including samphire (Tecticornia), tea-tree (Melaleuca) and heath, in saltmarshes and coastal dunes, in swamp or mangrove margins and around inland salt lakes.

[8] The white-fronted chat usually forages singly or in small parties, seeking insects in low bushes or on the ground.

[7] Their diet consists of a wide variety of insects, including beetles, ants, bees, grasshoppers, moths and caterpillars, as well as spiders, acacia seeds, and nectar.