Dark brown above and heavily streaked with black below, with base color blending from white on the throat to buffy on the lower belly.

Somewhat similar to Stripe-sided and Visayan Rhabdornises, but smaller, and lacks the broad black band through the eye.

It is differentiated from it with its darker streaking on its belly and more defined mask, it is also slightly more creamy white rather than yellow.

Gleans dead leaves searching for food and forages in the understorey and bushes.

Nest was made of live and dead mosses, lined with roots and stemps from orchids placed 5 meters above the ground.