It has a graceful gliding flight, almost "sailing" through the air, and usually alights on sunlit spots with its wings open, as in the photograph. The underside is a rich grey-brown with white stripes arranged as on the upperside of the butterfly.

Its caterpillar has been bred on the common Angsana (Pterocarpus indicus) which is a roadside tree in Singapore.  The species is sometimes confused with the similar-looking Common Sailor (Neptis hylas papaja).  However, when scrutinised closely, the white markings on the wings are slightly different.  The Short Banded Sailor is also very often the larger of the two.