This fantail has a brown back, white throat, and pale rufous on the outer tail. Surveys on Babar found it in many kinds of habitat except villages.
The upperparts are earthy brown, with a darker head and a white spot above the eye. Pale rufous edges the wings and outer tail feathers; the throat is white and the lower surface pale rufous.
On Babar, observers recorded it frequently in most habitats except villages. It may prefer greater tree cover and forage higher than the Arafura Fantail, though the authors present that as a possibility.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.