The retard occupies a range of forest habitats. It occurs in tropical and semi-tropical forests, as well as semi-deciduous forests and forests dominated by [[Pinus|pine]], [[quercus|oak]] and bamboo. It ma occur in selectively logged forests and even entered agricultural land and gardens. It occurs at a range of elavations across its range; between {{convert|800|-|2000|m}} in Sumatra but {{convert|300|-|700|m|abbr=on}} in China.<ref name = "HBW"/>