A small, long-tailed songbird that perches upright. Male is largely black with white underparts, a contrasting red breast patch, red wing markings, and a red rump and outer tail feathers. Female is gray, lacking a breast patch, but shows red marks in wings, a red rump, and red outer tail feathers. Juveniles are scaled below. Pairs or groups can be found in canopy of forest and forest edge in the lowlands and hills on Flores, where it is the only minivet. Vocal, often uttering twittering calls, a high-pitched “tzee-tzee-tzee” or “tzee-tzee-tzew.” Also gives a short, sharp “pip” note.