NON-BREEDING: undergrowth of various wooded habitats, scrubby areas, and thickets (AOU 1983); on winter range males occupy more mature forests than do females (Powell and Rappole 1986, Lynch et al. 1985); males use forests, females use shrub or field habitats (Morton 1990). Generally in thick underbrush, often in or on edges of humid forest but also in disturbed areas. Nests in understory of mature deciduous forest, especially along streams and ravine edges, and thickets in riverine forest (AOU 1983). Inhabits both young and mature forests but is most abundant in the latter. Rarely occurs at elevations above 1200 m (Hamel 1992). Prefers forests with an open understory and closed canopy but is tolerant of openings. A dense shrub layer and scant ground cover are important. Generally favors large tracts of uninterrupted forest, but sometimes nests in forest patches as small as about 5 ha, probably most commonly where these are close to larger forested areas. Nests in sapling or shrub in dense deciduous undergrowth, usually 0.3- 1.5 m up. Commonly returns to the same area to nest in successive years (males are more likely to do so than are females).