This canastero is endemic to the Espinhaço Range in Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. It is restricted to rocky campos rupestres, where researchers have studied scattered populations.
Specimens described in the redescription have grey-brown upperparts, a warm brown crown, a narrow pale supercilium and rufous outer tail feathers.
It is restricted to rocky outcrops in Espinhaço campos rupestres. A six-year UFMG study followed a population at Serra do Cipó and examined nesting, breeding success and brood parasitism by the Shiny Cowbird.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.