Their upperparts are mostly reddish yellow-brown with few black feathers, a (usually hidden) white patch between the scapulars, and a rufous rump.

Females are similar to males but are paler, with rufescent forehead and crown, rufous tips on the wing coverts, and no white patch between the scapulars.

[5][6][7] Bertoni's antbird is found from southeastern Minas Gerais and São Paulo states in Brazil south through central and western Paraná into eastern Paraguay and extreme northeastern Argentina's Misiones Province.

In the northern part of its range it occurs between 900 and 2,000 m (3,000 and 6,600 ft) of elevation but is found near sea level in the south.

[5][6][7] Bertoni's antbird is believed to be a year-round resident throughout its range, though it may make local movements when bamboo stands die.

It gleans prey from live leaves and stems by reaching, lunging, or making short flights from a perch.

[5] The breeding season of Bertoni's antbird has not been fully defined but includes November to January.