This honeyeater is known only from Alor Island, Indonesia. Its original description reports that it is mainly recorded in montane eucalypt woodland, mostly above 900 m.
The adult male holotype described in the original paper has a red head and a short red throat bib that does not reach the upper breast; the smoky-grey breast grades into a cream belly.
The original description places it mainly in montane eucalypt woodland, mostly above 900 m. A separate 2023 study in East Tanglapui and Waisika villages on Alor recorded it around water sources, bushes and gardens, and reported nectar from teak and other trees plus kersen fruit. Those lowland observations are limited to the two villages surveyed.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.