It has a gray head and back, a black facial band, a white breast, and rufous-brown flanks. In the Philippine mountains, it watches for insects from exposed perches.
Adults have a dark gray head and back, a black facial band, and a white throat and breast. The flanks and undertail are rufous-brown, with the depth of color varying by subspecies; juveniles have a reduced black mask.
It occurs in clearings in montane forest, open secondary growth, and shrub grassland at 1,200–2,400 m. It perches on exposed branches and dives for insects, including hard-bodied beetles.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.