Distinctive, chunky antbird with an upturned bill. Males are entirely black with a silvery-black bill; females are similar, but have a bright red-orange belly. Found in dense forest undergrowth, including in heliconia thickets, waterside vegetation, viny edge forest, and dense forest on nutrient poor soils. Forages singly or in pairs, and does not usually join mixed-species flocks. Its song is an easily-imitated, even-paced series of low whistles, given at a pace of about one note per second.