In its range, it is essentially limited to marshy areas in pampas and campos from coastal lowlands to highlands.

In recent years, it has been recorded in Cerro Largo, Canelones, Maldonado – where Charles Darwin found it in 1833 at Laguna José Ignacio and Laguna del Diario, where it can still be found –, Rocha, San José and Treinta y Tres Departments (especially at the Quebrada de los Cuervos).

A key feature of prime habitat is an abundant growth of caraguata (spiny eryngos, Eryngium spp.

It is sometimes claimed that the two reedhaunters differ in microhabitat preference, occurring sympatrically in the same region but not within the same locality, but this seems to be incorrect.

The species occurs in some protected areas, such as Área Protegida Quebrada de los Cuervos in Uruguay's Treinta y Tres Department.