Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

The hairy-crested antbird (Rhegmatorhina melanosticta) is a species of bird in the family Thamnophilidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. The hairy-crested antbird is a specialist ant-follower that relies on swarms of army ants to flush insects and other arthropods out of the leaf litter.