A medium-sized bird of foothill and lower montane forest with a white throat and belly, brown upperparts, darker wings and tail, a black mask, a gray crown, and pale brown sides broadly streaked white. Often perches on dead branches. Similar to Stripe-sided Rhabdornis, but usually found at higher elevations, and has a shorter, thicker bill and a crown that is gray rather than streaked white. Voice includes high-pitched chips, sometimes given in rapid series.