This small tailorbird lives in lowland forests of the southern Philippines, including forest edges, clearings and some secondary growth. It searches low vegetation for insects, and one pouch-like nest made from sewn leaves has been described.
It is about 12 cm long. The forehead and area around the eye are rufous-chestnut, the rest of the head is dark grey, and the upperparts are yellowish green. Its long graduated tail is reddish brown. The sexes are similar; juveniles have a greener head.
It eats insects and forages low in the undergrowth. The nest described from Basilan was placed near the tip of a branch or a drooping fern frond; leaves were sewn into a pouch, and the clutch contained two or three eggs.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.