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

Rufous-bellied niltava measures 15–18 cm and weighs 19–24 g.[2] It is a large, stocky and brightly coloured flycatcher with rounded head shape, fairly short tail and broad-based bill.

[5] N. s. sundara - (Hodgson, 1837): The nominate subspecies, it is found in the central and eastern Himalayas east from Nepal and from South China to Myanmar.

Males more violet-blue in colour than that of the nominate, with females having more olive-brown on the crown and nape, buff on forehead, rufous-brown on mantle and rufous on uppertail-coverts and tail edges.

Its diet mainly consists of small invertebrates and larvae (especially ants and beetles), along with occasional consumption of fruit.