This large parrotbill occurs in the eastern Himalaya and neighboring regions. A bird photographed at Sela Pass, Arunachal Pradesh, in 2024 showed a robust body and large curved bill.
The Sela Pass observation described a robust bird with a large curved bill and olive-brown plumage.
In May 2024 it was observed perched low in alpine scrub with dwarf rhododendron and juniper. The note also summarizes earlier accounts describing feeding in bamboo and dense bushes.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.