Its back, wings, and tail are plain dull brown; the rump has an olive wash.

The bill is mostly black, the eye red, and the feet lead gray.

[4] The chestnut-headed nunlet has been observed sallying from a perch, presumably to catch invertebrate prey, but no details of its feeding behavior or diet have been published.

The IUCN originally assessed the chestnut-headed nunlet in 1988 as Near Threatened but since 2004 has rated it as being of Least Concern.

[1] Its igapó habitat is widespread and under little human pressure, and the species is probably undercounted due to its quiet and sedentary nature.