Active little bird found in wide variety of scrubby, brushy, and lightly wooded habitats from lowlands to the high Andes. Often in pairs, hopping in bushes and brush with tail often held cocked; can be difficult to see well as it constantly flits about. Best identified by small size, recurved “devil horn” crest, and staring pale eyes; breast streaking finer and less striking than on Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant, which has limited range overlap with Tufted Tit-Tyrant.