An older bird account treated the Collared Babbler as the subspecies Gampsorhynchus rufulus torquatus. It describes rufous-brown upperparts and records the form from bamboo and evergreen forest.
In the historical account, G. rufulus torquatus has rufous-brown upperparts, rufous and black on the sides of the neck, and white edging and tips to the tail.
The account says its habits were thought to resemble the other form and records Davison collecting both forms in bamboo and evergreen forest.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.