This small bird has a white head and a black stripe through the eye. It searches muddy river and pond edges for small arthropods.
It is about 15 cm long, with a white head, a black stripe through the eye, and a light-gray back.
It searches mud for arthropods and may run across floating vegetation. Males display by fanning the tail.
In observations at Seropédica in Rio de Janeiro state, both adults brought food to nestlings. Identified prey included dragonflies and damselflies, butterflies and moths, beetles, ants and a spider.
At Seropédica, pairs spread their wings and tails and called at birds approaching the nest. During chases, usually one adult pursued the intruder while the other stayed near the nest.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.