It is endemic to the island of Mindanao in the Philippines where it is found in the tropical montane forests above 1,000 meters above sea level.

Rufous above with darker wings, a tail frequently held cocked and fanned, pale orange underparts, a black hood, and a broad white eyebrow.

"[3] The black-and-cinnamon fantail is 16 cm (6.3 in) long and weighs 10.5–14.5 g (0.37–0.51 oz) Two subspecies are recognized: Forages in the understory for insects and often joins mixed-species flocks that include other montane Mindanao birds that inclue Cinnamon ibon, Little pied flycatcher, Turquoise flycatcher, Negros leaf warbler and other small birds.

As it occurs in rugged and inaccessible mountains, this has allowed a large portion of its habitat to remain intact.

However, there it is still affected by habitat loss through deforestation, mining, land conversion and slash-and-burn - just not to the same extent as lowland forest.