A plain fulvetta, fairly similar in appearance to the “Gray-cheeked Fulvettas”. Range of the northern subspecies overlaps slightly with that of Yunnan Fulvetta, from which it can be distinguished by duller, more olive-green upperparts, a bolder black line above the eye, and colder gray-washed underparts. Southern subspecies, found in peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand, is richer brown above with a whiter belly. Fast twittering song is comparable to that of Yunnan Fulvetta but somewhat quicker and shorter. Dry churring rattles are likewise similar to those of Yunnan Fulvetta. Despite its name, does not necessarily inhabit higher altitudes than Yunnan Fulvetta, and altitudinal ranges do overlap.