Fairly common and generally widespread in canopy and borders of montane forest; the most frequently seen foliage-gleaner in many subtropical Andean forests. Relatively easy to watch, the Montane Foliage-gleaner forages actively, sometimes even acrobatically, at middle and upper tree levels, clambering along branches, often hanging upside down or moving out onto terminal twigs, pausing to inspect epiphytes and dead leaves. One or 2 regularly accompany many mixed flocks. Not very vocal, but foraging birds give an occasional sharp "peck" call; dawn song is a series of tyrannid-like, irregularly paced "pik" or "peck" notes.〔Robert S. Ridgely, Guy Tudor, William L. Brown, ''The Birds of South America: The Suboscine Passerines'' (1994), p.142〕