This nuthatch has a black crown and nape that contrast with its white face. It is resident in the conifer forests of Gilgit-Baltistan.
It has a relatively long bill and no black eye stripe. Its underparts are whitish, with buff deepening to rufous on the rear flanks and undertail coverts.
It forages in the crowns of tall trees and beneath thick, lichen-covered branches. In summer it has been seen catching prey in flight; its reported foods include insects and conifer seeds.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.