[2][8] A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2013 found that genus Myrmeciza, as then defined, was polyphyletic.

In the resulting rearrangement to create monophyletic genera M. hemimelaena and M. castanea were moved to a newly erected genus Sciaphylax.

[9][10][3] The two subspecies of the northern chestnut-tailed antbird are the nominate S. c. castanea (Zimmer, JT, 1932) and S. c. centunculorum (M.L.

Females have paler upperparts than males and mostly reddish yellow-brown underparts with a white belly.

Males of subspecies S. c. centunculorum have a more uniformly gray crown and more white on the underparts than the nominate.

[11] The northern chestnut-tailed antbird's diet has not been detailed; it is assumed to feed on insects and other arthropods.

Single birds, pairs, and family groups usually forage on the ground or within about 1 m (3 ft) of it and only rarely higher.

Its calls are "a quiet, descending, throaty churred rattle" and "a dry tchit or tchit-it, often in a short series".

"Lowland subspecies centunculorum is less geographically restricted but has [a] patchy distribution, and its known varillal and irapayal habitats are under intense human pressure.