Uncommon medium-sized brownish bird of Andean montane forest from Venezuela through Ecuador and just barely into Peru. Distinctive among treehunters with its bold buffy streaking covering the entire head, back, and body. Rufous wings and tail. Sexes alike. Usually found singly or in pairs moving furtively through the understory of forest, often around bamboo, from around 2,200–3,500 m. Does not typically follow mixed-species flocks.