The Rote Leaf-warbler was described from Rote Island, Indonesia. A 2018 study reports its appearance and behavior from observations on the island.
The adult male holotype in the paper has a lemon-yellow crown stripe and yellow underparts; its lower bill is described as yellow-orange.
In forest on Rote, observed birds used the tallest available vegetation and gleaned insects from bark on branches and trunks.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.