A drab olive-brown sparrow-sized songbird with a downcurved bill, dark speckling on the chest, and a small white cheek patch. Juvenile lacks speckling and has pink cheek skin. Noisy groups inhabit lowland habitats, including forest, mangroves, cultivated areas, and scrub. Confined to the eastern Lesser Sundas and the Tanimbar and Kai Islands. Differs from Indonesian Honeyeater in the speckling on the breast and the white facial mark. Calls include a coarse, incessant “tutututututututututu…”, “chup” and “chirrup” notes, and sharp “kwit” calls.