This Australian bird lives in dry inland areas and open country in the west and south. Adult males stand out with red on the head, breast and rump and a black facial mask.
Adult males have a dark-brown back, a red crown, breast and rump, a black eye mask and a white throat. Females and juveniles are mainly brown, with a white throat and pale pinkish underparts.
It walks on or near the ground while feeding mostly on insects, and also takes nectar at flowers. It may move after rainfall brings food; its small cup-shaped nest is placed low in a shrub.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.