A nest found in the Sinharaja forest in February 1995 was in dense foliage in the lower canopy of a tree ca. 18 m high. One bird was incubating. The clutch consists of two or three rounded oval eggs, measuring about 36 x 27 mm and unmarked white with a chalky surface. It usually feeds in mixed-species foraging groups where one to four birds is the norm.
Larger flocks occur occasionally, the largest reported group is of nine birds.
The Red-faced Malkoha is described as a rather silent, shy, restless and sprightly dweller of tall forest canopy. Since 1873, the Red-faced Malkoha has been considered everything from 'extremely rare' to 'quite common' in no obvious chronological order, although care must be taken when describing the status of a localised species, which may be common in some areas but rare as a whole. However, advances in quality and quantity of field ornithology in Sri Lanka may mean that a growing proportion of a dwindling population is being recorded. Shooting has been cited as contributory to the apparent decline at least in the dry zone. However, this is a rather large proviso.