Small understory antwren. Males are dark gray with an extensive black throat (extending farther down than in Long-winged Antwren); females are tan below, gray above. Both sexes have white wing spots; this is an especially helpful feature in identifying females. Found in areas of tangled understory in mature rainforest; largely restricted to bamboo patches in areas with bamboo. Usually rarer than the similar Long-winged Antwren, and differs in voice; its song is a slow series of punctuated downslurred whistles “pew, pew, pew, pew, . . .” unlike the high wheezy song of Long-winged Antwren.