This small bird lives in humid montane forest on the eastern Andes of Peru. It forages near the ground and can be difficult to see.
It is mostly blackish with rufous flanks and usually a white crown. Females are more rufous and may show barring below.
It forages close to the ground in humid montane forest. The account notes that it can be difficult to distinguish from similar tapaculos.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.