[2] The type specimen of what is now Parker's antbird was collected in 1951 but not recognized as a species at that time.

The American ornithologist Gary Graves studied it and other specimens and in 1997 formally described it as a species, Cercomacra parkeri.

[3] A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2014 found that genus Cercomacra was polyphyletic.

[5] The diet of Parker's antbird has not been detailed but is known to include a variety of insects; it appears to favor beetles.

Single birds, pairs, and family groups usually forage low to the ground but do feed into the forest mid-storey.

[5][6] The breeding season of Parker's antbird is not known but appears to include at least April to July.

[6] "As is the case with all species that inhabit humid montane forest, Parker's Antbird is vulnerable to deforestation, which is a severe problem in the Colombian Andes.