Males have greyish-brown upper parts, a chestnut crown and breast, and dark facial markings.

The song is a series of stuttering notes followed by a rasping trill similar to the noise made by a fishing reel.

The finch-like bill is short and thick with serrated edges and is used for stripping off buds, leaves and fruits.

The rufous-tailed plantcutter is found further south than any other cotinga, inhabiting scrub, forest edge and river valleys in Chile and western Argentina.

Birds breeding in southern or high-altitude regions move northwards or towards the lowlands in winter.