EBird describes the bird as "A small, long-billed, long-tailed bird of montane forest and scrub on Mindanao, with an olive back, wings, and tail, a yellow belly, a rufous head, and a pale buff throat and chest.

Similar in shape and habits to other tailorbirds on Mindanao, but occurs at higher elevations, and has a yellow belly and rufous head.

Song consists of very short, well spaced, varied phrases of fairly long, high-pitched piping notes.

Typically seen in pairs or small family parties deep within tangled vegetation.

The species inhabits forest understorey and edge, second growth and grassy clearings at altitude over 1,000 meters above sea level.