Large, long-billed robin that spends much of its time on the ground with tail cocked. The male has bluish upperparts, a dark face, a white supercilium, a broad black tail, and bright orange underparts. The female has gray underparts, a faintly mottled breast, a whitish throat, and orange sides. Breeds on high-altitude mountain slopes covered with dense scrub. On migration shows up in a variety of scrubby habitats. Calls similar to nightingales, including clear whistles and a low croak.