It was formerly considered as conspecific with the red-eyed scimitar babbler that is found in eastern Myanmar and northwestern Thailand.

The rusty-cheeked scimitar babbler was formally described in 1831 by the Irish zoologist Nicholas Vigors under the binomial name Pamatorhynus erythrogenys in John Gould's book "Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains".

The species was formerly regarded as conspecific with the red-eyed scimitar babbler (Erythrogenys imberbis) that is found in eastern Myanmar and northwestern Thailand.

The red-eyed scimitar babbler in now considered as a separate species based on the differences in morphology and vocalization.

[6][7] Three subspecies are recognised:[6] The species is olive-brown above, with rusty colouring on the sides of the face, head, thighs, and flanks.