The Javan Black-capped Babbler has a black head and chestnut-brown back. On Java, it searches for small prey among leaf litter in moist forest.
It is about 16–17 cm long. The crown and nape are black, with a white throat, chestnut back, wings and tail, and orange-rufous underparts. The sexes look alike; juveniles have a browner cap and rufous throat.
It occurs singly or in pairs in dense vegetation in moist lowland forest. It walks through leaf litter, seldom more than half a metre above the ground, and eats insects, spiders, worms and snails.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.