This flycatcher occurs across South America. The Peru account describes it foraging in the understory of river-created habitats, with different subspecies associated with different environments.
It is about 14 cm long, with olive-brown upperparts, two rufous wing bars, and a brown or pale superciliary. Peru Aves describes the widespread subspecies fuscatior as darker, with a black bill, olive breast, and pale belly.
The Peru account describes understory foraging in river-created habitats; some other forms are associated with nutrient-poor soils.
For the Argentine subspecies bimaculatus, SIB records nests made with plant fibers and bark, lined with bristles, and a clutch of three eggs.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.