A small, plain crombec of forest edges. Like most crombecs, it is a small, compact passerine with a short tail, not much longer than the wingtips, and a fairly long bill. Often seen foraging in leaves and twigs. Rather uniform in color, being olive-green above and yellow-green below with a grayish throat. Song is a distinctive, piercing “suweet suweet suweet suweet suweet!” that varies in length.