This wren breeds in lowlands and foothills from sea level up to 800 m altitude in open or scrubby woodland, including forest clearings and second growth.

Its flask-shaped nest has a long entrance tube angled downward and is lined with fine grasses.

The female alone incubates the three or four unspotted white or pale greenish-blue eggs for about two weeks to hatching, and the young fledge in about the same length of time again.

Young birds have duller upperparts and dull white underparts, faintly mottled with dusky brown.

The banded wren forages actively in low vegetation or sometimes on the ground in pairs or family groups.