This babbler is endemic to Palawan and Balabac in the Philippines. It forages in the middle and lower forest layers of lowland evergreen forest.
Adults have rufescent olive-brown upperparts, a dull rufous rump and tail, and a silky-white throat. The sexes are similar; juvenile plumage is undescribed.
It uses primary and old secondary lowland evergreen forest, foraging in the middle and lower storeys alone or in small groups. Its diet is only tentatively described as small invertebrates and some plant matter.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.