A small ground-hugging bird found in areas with dense cover, usually near moving water. Unlike most shortwings, male and female are not significantly different; both sexes are brown or gray overall, with a white eyebrow and throat. Furtive and quite difficult to see; its tinkling melodic song, which starts with 1-2 slow notes and quickly accelerates into a rushed-sounding loud musical jumble, may give away its position in the undergrowth.