The scientific nomenclature, or name, of this species is Drepanornis bruijni, consisting of "Drepanornis", which means "sickle bird", that refers to the birds' sickle-shaped bill, and bruijni, which commemorates Antonie Augustus Bruijn, a Dutch plume merchant.

Pale-billed sicklebills are on the more medium-sized side of the family Paradisaeidae; they seldom reach over 35 cm, or 13.7 inches, in length.

The ornaments present on the male are relatively extensive pectoral feathers in rows on the sides of the breast and belly.

Both sexes have a rufous to buff-colored tail, purplish-lead grey legs and feet, and dark brown irises.

The male has a bare purple grey skin around its eye, brown iris, pale sickle-like bill, an iridescent red and purple-tipped upper breast plumes, blue and green-tipped ornamental lower breast feathers and purple small horn-like brow feathers.