Roberto Straneck formally described the species and assigned its current binomial in 2007.

[2] The Clements taxonomy does not include Bolivia in its range statement; it lists but does not specify breeding or non-breeding in the other four countries.

One apparent breeding-season record in Bolivia was in the Gran Chaco, a dry forest biome.

In its non-breeding range it inhabits the Chaco, the Argentine Espinal, Pampas grasslands, and lowland moist forest.

It moves through vegetation with short jumps and flutters, feeding from very near the ground up to at least 6 m (20 ft) above it.

[5] The only known nest of Straneck's tyrannulet was found "ready for eggs" in early November in Argentina.

The main vocalization of Straneck's tyrannulet is "a high-pitched but not far-carrying 'twie tirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr', occasionally with the first or second portions emitted alone".

[1] It is "[r]eported to be common, but precise details of distribution need to be established, both for breeding and non-breeding seasons".