A small, rare bird of mid-montane forest. Male is dark gray above and pale gray below with a slight, pale tuft on the side. Females are heavily spotted with olive-edged flight feathers. Eastern and western birds differ. Eastern birds have longer, thinner bills and the females, darker bellies with more distinct spots. Male is similar to female Mid-mountain and Fan-tailed Berrypeckers but is longer-billed and shorter-tailed. Female is similar to Mottled Berryhunter but is much smaller. Call, a thin, high-pitch “tsiip”.