This west-central African cuckoo has rufous wings and a pale rufous underside. It searches for food on the ground and in low bushes.
Adults have a black head and upper back with a violet sheen, contrasting with rufous wings. The underside from throat to belly is pale rufous-buff, and the lower back is barred. The sexes look alike.
It is active by day and forages on the ground or low in bushes. Its omnivorous diet includes insects, snails, frogs, small snakes, and small birds. It can be difficult to see in dense vegetation.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.