A striking black-and-red forest malimbe with a unique red patch on the vent. Male has a black face and a red crown, neck and breast; female only has red on the breast. A fairly common resident within its range, found in pairs in the middle levels and canopy of tall primary and secondary lowland forest, farmbush, cultivation, and clumps of trees near villages. Occasionally joins flocks, sometimes with other malimbes, and gleans leaves and thin twigs in the manner of a tit. Calls include a hard “tchuk” and also a cicada-like “zee-zee-zee.” Other similar-looking malimbes lack the red vent patch.