STATUS: Common.
HABITAT: Favors moderately dense thickets near watercourses, second-growth woodlands; deserted farmlands overgrown with shrubs and brush, and brushy orchards for habitat. Also inhabits open woods, avoiding extremely dense woods and high elevations.
SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Low, dense, shrubby vegetation.
NEST: Prefers to nest in thick bushes overgrown with vines or in trees on horizontal limbs, typically 4 to 8 feet above ground. Conceals nest with surrounding foliage.
FOOD: Forages among leaves for food, which consists mainly of caterpillars, especially tent caterpillars and fall webworms. Also eats other insects and spiders, some small wild fruits, some frogs, and occasionally a small lizard.
REFERENCES: Beal 1904, Bent 1940a, DeGraff et al. 1980, Johnsgard 1979, Preble 1957, Tate and Tate 1982.