The nominate subspecies' crown and cheeks are dark gray with narrow pale streaks and there is a large rufous loral spot.

The nape has a wide rufous collar that extends onto the sides of the neck.

The underparts are shades of brown, darker on the breast and paler on the belly.

M. r. brunnescens occurs in Brazil south of the Amazon and east of the Tapajós River to the Atlantic Ocean.

In most of its range it inhabits the understory of terra firme evergreen forest.

It occasionally joins mixed-species foraging flocks and attends army ant swarms.