Small, long-tailed bird that tends to stay hidden. Difficult to see well unless singing, when it can perch more conspicuously. Overall pale gray-brown with rufous wings and crown. Similar to Slaty Spinetail but paler especially on the throat. Found in weedy, tangled undergrowth in fields and edges of secondary growth. Distinctive song: a harsh sneezing “achoo…achoo…achoo” repeated over and over.