Their vocalizations and behavior strongly suggested the two species belonged in Syndactyla, and that placement was confirmed by genetic study.

Their back is darker and less rufescent and their underparts paler but with a strong black scalloped pattern.

[5] The Peruvian recurvebill feeds on a variety of arthropods including spiders, beetle larvae, and earwigs.

It typically forages singly or in pairs and occasionally joins mixed-species feeding flocks.

It mostly forages in dense undergrowth in the forest's understory, but will rarely also feed up to the mid-storey.

The Peruvian recurvebill's song is a "short, loud, harsh, ascending rattle (2-3 sec), last note(s) sometimes lowered".

"Habitat within its core range is relatively intact, but the region, including those areas under legal protection, is being opened up for development...resulting in further degradation.