[2] The black-backed antshrike was described by the English zoologist Philip Sclater in 1855 and given the binomial name Thamnophilus melanonotus.

A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2007 found that Sakesphorus was polyphyletic and that three species including the black-backed antshrike were embedded within a clade containing members of Thamnophilus.

Adult females have a dark brown crown with cinnamon edges to the feathers.

Subadult males resemble adult females with some black feathers beginning to show.

The species inhabits the understorey to mid-storey of dry deciduous forest, where it favors areas with dense vine thickets.

It forages rather lethargically, mostly singly or in pairs and seldom as part of a mixed-species feeding flock.

[5][6][7] The black-backed antshrike breeds between March and July in northern Colombia; its season in Venezuela is not known.

The black-backed antshrike apparently has two songs, "a single soft cuua [and] a short, nasal roll, qurrrrrr".

"Conversion of much of the dry and semi-deciduous forest of the region to agriculture (particularly pasture for goats) is a potential threat that needs to be monitored.