This stunning, long-tailed antbird is fond of bamboo thickets within or at the edge of montane forest. Male is streaked with black and white on the head, breast, and back, with a warm tawny belly and rump. The long tail feathers have white tips. Female is equally streaky but is buffy instead of white. Found from about 1,500–2,500 m in the Andes, above the elevation range of any similar species. Usually quite skulky, but listen for the distinctive raspy song, starting with two stronger introductory notes and ending with two or three longer wheezy notes.