He considered the bird to be a subspecies of the crested satinbird and coined the trinomial name Cnemophilus macgregorii sanguineus.

The male red satinbird sports bright, orange to reddish-orange upperparts, tail and most of the head is of the same color as well.

The feature that granted their former name, sickle-crested bird-of-paradise, is the small group of fine, brownish-purple crest plumes that are usually obscure in the head/crown feathers and is usually raised during displays.

Like other members of the family, they have weak feet and an extremely wide gape; the mouth is pinkish in color, and the bill is light grayish.

Red satinbirds are usually seen solitarily, pairs or occasionally in small groups at good fruiting trees.