Endemic to Peru, this gray tapaculo has variable rufous markings and forages near the ground in humid montane forest and scrub with bunchgrass.
It is mainly mouse-gray, with variable rufous and dark bars on the flanks, vent, and rump. The eyebrow varies, and females are described as more rufous.
It forages close to the ground in humid montane forest and is also reported in scrub with bunchgrass and Polylepis woodland.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.