Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

It contains but one species, of which a subspecies, N. d. thompsoni ("Thompson's suthora"), is found within India.

Top and sides of the head bright cinnamon-rufous; hind neck, back and rump pale slate-grey, more or less washed with olive; wings and tail grey-brown, the quills edged with bright rufescent brown; chin and throat black; breast grey tinged with buff, more especially on the centre; flanks, abdomen and lower tail-coverts clear brownish ochraceous.

Bill fleshy horny; irides hazel; legs plumbeous grey.

Text taken from The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma – Birds (Volume 1), Edward Charles Stuart Baker, Secretary of State for India in Council.