A large weaver with bold and distinctive patterning. Note the mostly rufous head, the white throat and eyebrow, and the black moustache. The two white wingbars are especially obvious in flight. Found locally in a variety of woodland and savanna habitats, often in small flocks, though typically inconspicuous. Somewhat similar to White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, but easily separated by the rufous on the head and back and the more complex facial pattern. The call is a long trill, and the song is a high-pitched rapid-fire jumble of musical notes that can be quite long.