Short-tailed, thrushlike flycatcher. Male mostly dark blue, with bright blue shoulder, and dark bill. Female all rufous, with blue shoulder patch. Very secretive bird of the shady understory and ground, inside gullies within montane forest. Dark male resembles larger Indian Blackbird, although Whistling-Thrush is dark-billed, with a shorter tail. Female similar to other nondescript, brown songbirds, but uniform rufous coloration and blue shoulder patch identifies it from all others. Voice includes a high-pitched “sreee” and “si” notes, as well as a complex, rapid twittering song comprised of varied pitch, whistled notes.