EBird describes the bird as "A medium-sized bird of foothill and lower montane forest on Negros and Panay with an off-white throat, a white belly, brown upperparts, darker wings and tail, a black mask, a gray crown, and pale brown sides broadly streaked white.

Similar to Stripe-sided Rhabdornis, but usually found at higher elevations, bill is shorter and thicker, and crown is gray rather than dark with white streaks.

"[3] Was formerly conspecific with the Stripe-breasted rhabdornis and Grand rhabdornis but is differentiated by pale brownish gray mask, paler gray crown and plainer head, brown-gray throat and black spotting on neck and a longer tail.

[5] IUCN Red List has assessed the Visayan rhabdornis as Least Concern, with an estimated population of 2,500 to 9,999 mature individuals.

Habitat degradation, through clearance for agriculture, timber and charcoal burning, continues to seriously threaten remaining fragments Conservation actions proposed include surveys to determine the species' status in Negros and Panay and increased forest protection.