A grayish riverine spinetail with rufous crown and shoulders. Known from only a few sites but locally common, alone or in pairs, mostly in young riverine successional vegetation (especially dense scrub) on sedimentary islands in the Orinoco River. Sexes similar. Easy to find by voice, a rattling series “quip, pip-pip-pip-pip” ending in a trill “prrr”. Very similar to Pale-breasted Spinetail, but differs in grayish body, less contrasting rufous patches, different voice, and river island specialization. Endemic to the Orinoco River of Venezuela.