The Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush has a pale eye-ring and orange bill. It searches for insects and fruit near the ground in wet mountain forest; underpart color varies among subspecies.
It is about 17–19 cm long. The back is dark grey, shading to slate-black on the head, wings and tail. Underparts vary among subspecies, but the pale eye-ring and orange bill are conspicuous.
It lives on or near the ground in wet mountain forest and eats insects, spiders, sowbugs, earthworms, berries and other fruit. It moves in buoyant hops and may flick its wings nervously.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.