This malkoha occurs in the Philippines. In moist lowland forest it moves through vine tangles while searching for large insects and other prey. Differences in body traits among island populations and subspecies have also been reported.
Its plumage is glossy black, with a short red eyebrow-like crest, white tail tips, and bare skin around the eye ranging from red to yellow-orange. The northern subspecies is smaller than the southern one; crest, breast colour, and tail-band traits also differ.
It feeds mainly on large insects, and also takes worms and lizards. It creeps and hops through vine tangles while foraging, sometimes dropping to the ground to seize prey.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.