A localized woodland weaver that has a dusky-olive head and upperparts, and golden-yellow underparts. Brighter male has a golden-yellow crown and more extensive rusty breast patch. Juvenile is much paler. Restricted to mature Miombo woodland where ‘Old Man’s Beard’ Usnea lichen is abundant. Singles and pairs sometimes join mixed-species flocks and forage secretively for insects by creeping along branches like a nuthatch or creeper; does not nest colonially. Not very vocal, but occasionally calls a series of soft high-pitched buzzing notes ‘tzee-twa-twa’.