 Athreya spotted them again in January 2005 but did not publicize it until he was able to confirm it to be a new species.It was initially identified as appearing most similar to an Emei Shan liocichla, "Liocichla omeiensis", a species of Liocichla endemic to China.It was however distinctly different and the full description was finally made by capturing and examining two individuals using mistnets, in May 2006.