The species is long-tailed, largely olive brown on the upper side with a distinctive curved red beak tipped in yellow.

They forage singly or in pairs mainly on or close to the ground creeping between grasses and bushes, often on rocky habitats where they feed on small lizards, insects, and sometimes berries and seeds.

The sirkeer cuckoo is about 42–44 centimetres (16+1⁄2–17+1⁄4 in) long with dark olive brown on the back, wings and the central tail feathers.

They are normally very silent but produce a low buzzing zwik, or a sharp and repeated kik or kek sounds with a tone similar to the calls of a rose-ringed parakeet.

[8] The populations, P. l. sirkee in northwestern India (Rajasthan, Gujarat and Sind) are pale and have a yellowish throat and breast.

The populations in the Eastern Himalayas are darker and larger and are considered to be a subspecies infuscata described by Edward Blyth (Latin scholars suggest it should be spelled infuscatus when used in the genus Phaenicophaeus[10]).

Their courtship display involves pairs bowing with the tail splayed wide, held upright and looking like an open fan.

[18] The nest is a broad saucer of twigs placed in a low bush or tree and lined with green leaves.