These include abandoned farmland, shrubby fields, successional forest, pine barrens, conifer plantings, abandoned strip mines, clear cuts, utility right of ways, alder swamps, tamarack bogs, and beaver wetlands. The common features of these habitats are patches of dense herbaceous growth and shrubs, as well as scattered trees within the territory and, often, a forested perimeter. Distinguished primarily by extensive yellow wing patch and chickadee-like face pattern, with black eye patch and throat. The gray throat patch can be indistinct. Some may have yellow on the chest.
Wing bars are intermediate between the two parental species.
The Type I song is commonly described in field guides and presented on commercial tapes. This song is given most frequently when males first arrive on a breeding territory to attract mates and define a territory. Type II songs are similar for both species and can be described as a sibilant, rapid stutter followed by a lower buzzy note. It is also commonly given in the 20 minutes before dawn, after the female starts to incubate. Both respond strongly to each other's Type II song.