It has two or three grass-like leaves and up to ten yellow flowers with reddish-brown marks and blotches.

There are two raised, fleshy calli 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long in the mid-line of the labellum.

[2][3][4][5][6] Diuris pardina was first formally described in 1840 by John Lindley and the description was published in his book, The Genera and Species of Orchidaceous Plants.

[7][8] The specific epithet (pardina) is derived from the Ancient Greek word pardos meaning "leopard".

It grows in well-drained soils in heath and forest and there is considerable variation in the colouration of the flowers.