Endemic to Socotra, this small bird occurs widely in habitats with trees and shrubs. The museum description of an adult male records ashy-brown upperparts, pale underparts, and white tips and dark bands on the tail.
The adult male described in the 1883 museum catalogue has ashy-brown upperparts and pale greyish-white underparts. All but the central tail feathers have white tips, preceded by a dark band. The two outermost feathers also have a second white spot on the inner web.
The 2013 island survey reports it widely in habitats with trees and shrubs from sea level to 1,000 m. Densities were highest in submontane shrubland on granite slopes and cliffs. Records of nest building, eggs, chicks and adults feeding fledged young together established a known breeding season of November–April.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.