The PeruAves account also records this species in Brazil and Bolivia. It has a rufous crown and wings, a gray tail, and a black throat.
It has a rufous crown and folded wings, a gray tail, and a black throat bordered by gray that continues onto the breast and belly.
It forages in tall grass mixed with scrub and shrubs. The account notes that voice is important for distinguishing similar spinetails.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.