[2] The vernacular and genus name Irania alludes to Iran, its type locality, while the specific name gutturalis is Medieval Latin for "of the throat".

[4] The breeding male has lead-grey upperparts, a black face with a white throat and supercilium, and orange underparts.

Females are plainer, mainly grey apart from a black tail, hints of orange on the flanks, and some white throat streaks.

[4] It is a migratory species, breeding from Turkey to Afghanistan in western Asia, and wintering in East Africa.

Small numbers reach the Usangu Plains of Ruaha National Park in Tanzania, which is normally their southern limit.