This resident species is endemic to China. Around Mount Taishan it occurs from mountain areas to suburban tree cover and moves in flocks through shrubs and small trees.
About 14 cm long, it has a rounded head, compact body, and fluffy plumage. The Taishan subspecies has two broad black crown stripes divided by a pale central stripe, a gray back, and white edging and tips on the outer tail feathers.
It forages in flocks among shrubs and small trees in scrub, open woodland, and orchards. It feeds almost entirely on insects during breeding; nests are placed in tree forks.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.