It forages in the upper understory of humid montane forest on the eastern Andes, often with mixed-species flocks. Records are from 700–1,500 m.
Males have gray-brown upperparts, gray sides and underparts, and a black-and-white checkered throat. Females are mostly brown, with tawny streaks on the throat and breast.
It forages in the upper understory of humid montane forest and often joins mixed-species flocks. Compared with the Rufous-backed Stipplethroat it is grayer and occurs higher on the eastern Andes.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.