The formosa subspecies described in an account from northern Argentina is a ground-dwelling bird with a long head crest and finely patterned plumage. It lives in savannas and dry woodland and lays glossy yellowish eggs.
Subspecies formosa has a long brown crest and white lines running along the sides of the face and neck. Its reddish-brown back is spotted with black and ochre, and its flanks have bold black bars.
It is reported from savannas, dry quebracho and algarrobo woodland, and transition woodland. The account says it lays up to 11 glossy yellowish eggs.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.