A survey of reserves in the Republic of the Congo recorded the species frequently in wooded grassland, especially at Idzoua Inkou. Males and females differ in upperpart color.
In the historical adult description, the male is glossy blue-black above and the female is gray. Both sexes are ochraceous yellow below, with a white band on the wing-coverts and rump.
Tony King’s 2002–2007 survey of the Lesio-Louna and Lefini Reserves recorded Yellow-bellied Hyliota frequently in wooded grassland, especially at Idzoua Inkou.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.