This leaf warbler breeds in western China. Its description records a pale eyebrow and breast band, while the type series came from scrub and forest-edge settings among other sites.
The 2008 description gives dark brown to green-brown upperparts, a pale yellowish eyebrow, yellow underparts, and a breast band tinged pale orange.
The type series and other records came from willow, rhododendron, and barberry scrub, forest edges, and open woodland. These are reported collection and record settings.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.