This streamside bird is notable for its chestnut head and black-and-white tail. It searches for insects along rivers and streams in humid Southeast Asian forests.
The crown and nape are chestnut, the breast is dark, and the wings have a white bar. The rump and underparts are white; the black tail has narrow white bars and a white tip. In females, chestnut extends across the back.
It forages along river and stream edges, eating insects such as beetles, ants, and larvae. It sometimes eats small snakes.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.