Male has a black forehead, face, and chest, and female has gray underparts.

These considerable differences in plummage may one day lead these birds to be split but will need further study.

The IUCN Red List has assessed this bird as vulnerable with the population being estimated at 2,500 to 9,999 mature individuals.

Most remaining lowland forest that is not afforded protection leaving it vulnerable to both legal and Illegal logging, conversion into farmlands through Slash-and-burn and mining.

Due to its still unclear taxonomy and numerous subspecies which may be classified as its own species, this species complex may even be more threatened than originally though, the Luzon subspcies lecroyae, East Visayan ripleyi and the Mindoro subspecies elusum are extremely rare while Mindanao nominate is still considered generally uncomon.

Due to its preference for the canopy, fairly drab color and similar appearance to other cuckooshrikes and trillers and relative silence, this species may possibly be overlooked.

[6] Conservation actions proposed are further surveys to better understand distribution and population status in remaining habitat.