It was previously considered as a subspecies of the spot-winged antbird (now M. leucostigma), which at times had been placed in genera Percnostola and Schistocichla.

A 2007 study of the vocal characteristics of the then many subspecies of the spot-winged found significant differences between the taxa.

Their throat and underparts are medium gray with an olive-brown tinge to their sides, flanks, and crissum.

Their throat and belly are pale tawny that gently becomes olive-brown on their flanks and undertail coverts.

[7] With one exception the species' calls apparently are the same as those of the spot-winged antbird, which include a "long, downslurred, typically frequency-modulated whistle", an "abrupt unclear note given singly or in series of 2–5", and a "short rattle".

[6][8] The exception is a variation of the downslurred whistle ("teeeeur") in which it is repeated in a series, and which is not known from others of the spot-winged complex.

"Regions inhabited by [the] species also encompass extensive areas of intact habitat which are not formally protected, but seem unlikely to be threatened by development in the near future.