A babbler recorded from northeastern India and western Myanmar. Its 1902 original description is of one specimen from Kanpetlet, and the authors were cautious about distinguishing it without comparative specimens.
The 1902 description of one Kanpetlet specimen notes black streaks on creamy underparts and a strong black moustache running into a mottled patch behind the ear.
The IUCN habitat table identifies high-altitude shrubland as a major habitat and also lists moist montane forest and high-altitude grassland as suitable.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.