Small, streaky antbird of humid forest along the east slope of the Andes; also found in lowlands away from the mountains in a few areas. Male is boldly striped with black and white. Female is black and tan with a similar stripy pattern but has plainer underparts. Inhabits dense vegetation at forest edge or overgrown clearings. Song is an excited series of doubled notes: “hiccup, hiccup, hiccup…”