The Ashy Robin is distributed in Papua New Guinea and north-eastern Queensland from Cooktown to Mt. Spec. Some authorities, such as HBW, split the species so that the Queensland population is a full species Heteromyias cinereifrons.

It is a large-headed, robust robin. The bill has a pale tip and the legs are pinkish. Note the grey head, the white under the eye extending to the throat and the bold Z-shaped white wingflash.