Both males and females have red eyes and yellow to whitish wing bars. These birds are generally olive above and white below with yellow flanks. The female is smaller in size and juveniles are more brown above , rather than olive, and buffy below. The flight of V. actricapillus is quick, nervous and rarely sustained. Their diet consists primarily of caterpillars and beetles.
Young birds seem to prefer spiders as a supplement to their diet while adults prefer berries.
Reproduction V. atricapillus arrives at its breeding region in early March and has migrated south by late September. The actual breeding begins in mid-April and ends in early August. These birds are monogamous. The actual nest is compact, cup-like and rounded in shape with thick walls. It is composed of leaves, coarse grasses, bark strips, catkins and spiders' cocoons, all bound together and supported with long plant fibers, spider webs and wool.