This leaftosser ranges from southern Mexico through Central America to western Colombia and western Ecuador. It inhabits lowland and montane evergreen forest and forages for invertebrates on the ground.
The body is mostly deep brown and the tail brownish black. White throat feathers are edged with dusky brown, giving a scaly look. The tawny chest can show pale streaks.
Compiled data classify it as diurnal and terrestrial, feeding mainly on invertebrates at ground level. It occurs in humid lowland and montane evergreen forest.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.