It is threatened by habitat loss, the use of pesticides and trapping for the cagebird industry.

[1] It is 14 cm long and has a conical, grey bill, pinkish-brown feet and brown eyes.

It is found mainly on the largest island Honshu but may also breed on Kyushu and possibly bred on Hokkaido in the past.

It occurs in forest and woodland between 600 and 1500 metres above sea level, mainly in the central and northern parts of Honshū.

It has been recorded from the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong and south-east China at this season but is scarce everywhere.