The White-tipped Plantcutter shows strong sex differences in plumage. Males have a red forehead and underparts, while females are grey with dark streaks.
Males have a bluish-slate back, a brick-red forehead and underparts, white wing bars, and white tips on the outer tail feathers. Females are grey with dark streaks and a buff-colored belly.
It is usually seen alone but sometimes in small flocks. It feeds on buds, leaves, berries, and small seeds. The historical account describes nests inside thorny shrubs.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.