This bird appears dark in the shade of the forest and the colours become clear only when it is lit by the sun.

The male has dull purplish grey secondaries and coverts and the body is greyish while the female has rufous replacing the purple.

[7] It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam.

[9] The song consists of is a low whistle while other calls include a sit and soft trrrs.

[2] Charles Inglis reported that the birds have an iora-like whistling call in the mornings and evenings.