Its specific epithet honors Wesley E. Lanyon "in recognition of his research on tyrannid species over the last three decades".

Their wings are dark brownish gray with bright olive green edges on the flight feathers.

It has been observed foraging in the forest's mid-story up into the canopy, making short upward sallies to snatch or hover-glean prey from vegetation and to capture it in mid-air.

The Antioquia bristle tyrant's song is "a short stutter, introduced with a chip and ending with several wheezy notes".

"Livestock-farming, arable cultivation, logging, infrastructure development and gold mining have all played a part in the destruction of habitat in its range.

Even though the species shows some tolerance of disturbance and is also found in mature secondary habitats, small-scale loss and degradation of forests throughout the range is accelerating and driving population declines.

[8] "Much of the lower Cauca and Magdalena Valleys were deforested as long ago as the 19th century, and habitat loss continues in this region.