[2] They are sexually dimorphic with the adult male having a bright golden-yellow forehead and underparts with a prominent black crescent breast band.

[13] The crown and nape are a grey-olive colour, the back is yellowish-brown and the tail is black with yellow tips on the feathers.

[16] Their habitat is subject to high temperatures for most of the year and contains marshy plains vegetated with saltbush, rank grasses, or cumbungi reeds.

[3][9] These marshes have been formed by marine lagoons or inland artesian bore drains, creating a saline environment.

[17] Furthermore, small body weights will also lead to a higher rate of evaporative water loss compared to larger birds.

[18] These predictions suggest that the small body size of the yellow chats combined with their hot, dry, arid environment will result in heat stress and a high loss of water.

Studies have found that the physiology of the yellow chats differs from other species of passerines with adaptations to help them cope with the challenging environment.

[20] Yellow chats have adapted to have lower levels of this hormone circulating in their body, resulting in a slower metabolism.

[22] Breeding season for the yellow chat has been observed from November to January after sufficient rain has fallen.

[19] The female builds the nest close to the ground in small shrubs, usually samphire (Tecticornia) or in dense grass.