It is a species of open habitats, including karoo scrub, fynbos and parks and gardens in urban areas.

The adult bokmakierie is a 22–23 cm long bird with olive-green upperparts and a conspicuous bright yellow tip to the black tail.

The underparts are bright yellow with a broad black collar between the throat and breast, which continues up the neck sides through the eye to the bill.

Although the species as a whole is not threatened, the isolated dark subspecies restrictus in the Chimanimani Mountains numbers only about 400 birds.

The bokmakierie has a range of loud whistles and calls, often given by a pair in antiphonal duet, but the most typical is the one that gives this species its name, bok-bok-mak-kik.