The Russet-winged Schiffornis occurs in eastern Panama, northern Colombia, and northern Venezuela. The account notes that it was formerly included in Thrush-like Schiffornis, but treats it as a separate species.
The sexes are alike. It is brown or olive-brown and has a distinctive wide-eyed look.
It is said to occur in low growth of humid forest and shaded secondary woodland, though the account qualifies its reported frequency as only supposedly fairly common. It perches low and clings to upright stems.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.