The Rufous-crowned Babbler lives in humid lowland forests of Southeast Asia. It has a rufous crown and tail and, at Krau Wildlife Reserve in Peninsular Malaysia, foraged among foliage and suspended dead leaves 4–8 m above the ground.
The crown has fine blackish scaling and darkens to black on the hindcrown and nape. The upperparts are olive brown, the rump and tail dull rufous, and the underside mostly whitish. The sexes are similar.
It is seen in pairs or small groups and sometimes joins mixed bird flocks. At Krau Wildlife Reserve in Peninsular Malaysia, it searched foliage and suspended dead leaves for insects 4–8 m above the ground. It also takes some seeds.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.