A black head and throat, rufous-brown back, and pale rump mark this small mannikin. It feeds on seeds in grassland and open forest clearings on New Ireland.
The head and throat are black, and the back and wings rufous-brown. The rump is buff, the breast and flanks are unmarked rufous-buff, and the central belly, thighs, and undertail-coverts are black. The dark-brown tail has orange-buff edges, and the uppertail-coverts are orange-buff. The bill is black with a paler base to the lower mandible. Sexes are similar; juveniles have a brown, dark-streaked head.
It occurs in dry lowland grassland and grassy or weedy forest clearings from sea level to 1,000 m. It is usually seen in small groups or flocks and feeds on grass and other plant seeds.
Birds in breeding condition were recorded in March. The source gives no further breeding information.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.