Baryphthengus martii is a medium-sized bird that typically measures about 17 inches in length, with a long tail ending in distinctive racket-shaped tips due to preening behavior that weakens the barbs near the ends. It has a stout black bill and a distinctive color pattern: a rich rufous head and chest, black facial mask, and olive-green wings and back. A black patch extends from the face down to the throat, and a bright turquoise-blue patch is visible on the wing coverts. The species generally inhabits tropical lowland and foothill forests from southeastern Mexico through Central America to western Ecuador and northwestern Colombia, with some presence recorded in adjacent areas of Panama and the Chocó region. It prefers the understory or mid-level forest layers and is often observed near water or along forest edges.

Baryphthengus martii is not endangered and is currently listed as a species of least concern, with a broad distribution across its range and relatively stable population trends. Although the total population size is not precisely known, it is considered locally common in suitable habitats. It is primarily insectivorous but also eats small vertebrates and fruit, often seen sallying from a perch to capture prey or hopping along thick branches. One of its notable behaviors is the use of its large bill to dig horizontal burrows into earthen banks, where it nests. These nesting burrows can reach lengths of up to 6 feet. Breeding typically takes place during the local dry season.
It has a low reproductive rate, and its dependence on forested habitats makes it vulnerable to deforestation.