Small and rather confusing brownish bird of cloud forest understory. Fairly warm brown, especially on wings and tail, with extensive buffy spotting on underparts and vague buffy eyebrow. Similar to foliage-gleaners but much smaller, closer to a spinetail in size. Spotted Barbtail is darker brown, lacking bright rufous tones on wings and tail. Usually seen singly or in pairs, often with a mixed-species flock. Sticks to the understory, where it often pokes around clusters of dead leaves or vine tangles. Found from 1,600–2,300m in the Andes from Venezuela to Peru.