This tapaculo forages in the understory of humid Andean forest and bamboo patches. Adult males are dark gray; females have rufous-brown and black bars on the lower back, rump, and vent.
Adult males are uniformly dark gray. Females have rufous-brown and black barring on the lower back, rump, and vent; juvenile feathers have pale edges.
The account says it favors bamboo patches and also forages in the understory of humid montane forest.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.