The Western Woodhaunter is a secretive bird of humid-forest understory from Central America into northwestern South America. Birds Colombia notes that some taxonomies recognize it as a separate species while others do not.
Under the split treatment used in the article, the virgatus group has browner underparts, streaking concentrated on the upper breast, and a darker chestnut tail than the former broader grouping.
It inhabits the understory of humid forest and is described as uncommon and secretive.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.