This honeyeater is found only in New Caledonia. It occurs in primary and secondary montane forest, scrub, and gardens.
It is 16–20 cm long, with a long, slender, down-curved bill, pale scalloping on the crown and nape, and fine grey barring below.
It feeds mostly on nectar, insects, and some fruit, moving acrobatically among vegetation while feeding.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.