Its natural habitat is boulder strewn streams in tropical moist montane forest from 600–2000 m. More rarely the species occurs closer to sea level.

[2] The Sunda forktail was formally described and illustrated in 1822 by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck under the binomial name Enicurus velatus.

The male has a white breast, belly and rump, and black wings, and a dark grey back and head.

The call of this species is a hard shrill "chee" or "hie-tie-tie"[2] The Sunda forktail feeds on aquatic insects and their larvae, as well as snails.

The nest of this species is a large cup of woven mosses, grasses leaves and wood fibres.