The Thorn-tailed Rayadito is a small bird of southern South American temperate forests and scrub. The tips of its tail feathers look thorn-like.
It has a golden eyebrow, streaked wings, and thorn-like tail feathers. Throat color varies in the Chiloé population.
It actively searches among foliage and leaf litter. Outside the breeding season it forms larger flocks, and in winter it may feed in mixed-species flocks.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.