A mid-sized laughingthrush, usually seen foraging on the ground and in shrubbery of hilly forest. Brown overall, with rusty highlights on the neck and flanks, and with prominent black markings on the white breast and face. Looks similar to the slightly larger Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush, with which it often associates in mixed flocks; Lesser differs in being duller rusty overall, having a complete (rather than partial) breast band, and having minimal streaking on the cheeks.