Some black, dark brown, buff barring appear on the flanks, tail, and wings. They feed primarily on small, terrestrial inverts from the subcanopy, shrubs, and herbaceous ground cover. The independent young and adults consume mostly spiders, beetles, and bugs while the nestlings are fed mostly grasshoppers, crickets, and caterpillars. The females return in time to complete the nest after choosing a male. They nest in tree cavities, such as old woodpecker holes, preferring cavities closer to the ground with small entrances.
Clutch sizes range from four to eight eggs, with one egg laid per day.
Hatching begins about 12 days after the last egg is laid and occurs only during daylight hours. The young are fully altricial and are brooded only by females but both sexes feed young directly. This wren mostly hops while on the ground and has a direct, steady flight only about 1 m above the ground in open areas. They are very territorial and found individually, in pairs or in immediate family groups. Monogamy with biparental care is seen in the majority of populations, although duration of pair bond within seasons is not common.