This large ovenbird forages in the understory of humid Andean montane forest. The Peru Aves account describes it as uncommon to rare on the eastern slope north of the Marañón Valley.
It is about 24 cm long, mostly blackish with broad buff streaks on the head, mantle, and underparts. The wings and tail are rufous and the bill is black.
It forages in the dense understory of humid montane forest. The Peru account gives an elevational range of 2,100–2,950 m and calls it uncommon to rare on the eastern slope north of the Marañón Valley. It does not describe its food items.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.