This honeyeater lives in forests and woodlands of eastern Australia, often near rivers. Bold black head stripes stand out against its grey-brown plumage, and it feeds among lower canopy foliage.
It is grey-brown above, with bold black stripes on the grey-white head and upper neck. Long, pointed throat and upper-breast feathers give it a shaggy appearance.
It occurs in riverine forest and woodland, mangroves, and urban gardens. Pairs or small flocks feed in dense lower-canopy foliage, mainly taking insects and spiders, as well as nectar and fruit.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.