Large antbird of bamboo stands in river edge forest. Males are dark gray with bright white wing bars and a darker blackish crest that is raised when agitated; females appear two-toned: orange above, with creamy white face and underparts. Both sexes have a red eye. Primarily found in bamboo, but occasionally found in other dense habitats, like cane thickets and heliconias along streams. Song is a descending, accelerating series of whistled notes, with a noticeable gap between the first note and the rest; “TEW … tew, tew, tew, tewtutututu”.