This babbler is found in the Ethiopian highlands. Its sooty-gray body, black spot before the eye, whitish forehead, and chestnut lower belly are distinctive.
It is sooty gray overall, with a black spot just before the eye. The forehead is dirty white, and the lower belly and undertail are chestnut; the sexes look alike.
It lives in dense native highland forest and along forest edges. It is seen in pairs or small parties and eats juniper berries.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.