Small antshrike. Males are mostly gray, with a black crown and white-spotted black wings and tail. Females are mostly rusty-colored, with whitish underparts. Note the pale eyes, which help to differentiate this species from similar slaty-antshrikes. Found in semideciduous forests with dense vine tangles and adjacent second growth. Forages from the understory to middle levels and apparently does not accompany mixed-species flocks. The song is a series of nasal notes ending with a rattle.