This large laughingthrush lives in Taiwan's central mountains, using scrub, bamboo and forest edges. Winter records occur at lower elevations.
The head has grey scaling and a long white stripe that runs above the eye and along the moustachial area. The wings and tail are slate blue-grey, and the vent is chestnut. The sexes are alike in plumage.
It moves in pairs or small groups through scrub, bamboo, forest edges and clearings, and also forages on the ground. Fruit, lizards, insects and larvae are reported foods. A Taiwan breeding-study abstract gives a March–August season and reports both parents in nest care.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.