This whistling thrush is endemic to Sumatra. Adult males have blue heads, breasts, and shoulders, with chestnut on the rest of the upperparts, tail, and flanks. Observers report it near forest streams.
The adult male has glossy blue on the head, breast, and shoulders, with brighter blue on the crown. Its upper back, outer wing webs, tail, and flanks are chestnut; the main wing surfaces are brownish black.
It inhabits moist montane forest. Field observers reported birds perched in the midstorey and subcanopy near watercourses; the species account also notes snails in the diet.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.