Size, thick bill and broad, straight white eyebrow stripe should prevent confusion with batises. The combination of chequered back, broad white eyebrow stripe and russet flank stripe is diagnostic.
Female is duller than male. Juvenile is mottled with buff and brown above and below.
Dry thornveld and open broad-leaved woodland.
A soft trilling 'prrrrr'. given by male, often answered by 'eeeu' from female.