Distinctive medium-sized finch. Adult male: Brownish face with dark eye. Black forehead with gray crown and extensive gray nape. Medium-length conical bill is grayish. Brownish-pink breast blending with blurry white belly and clean white undertail coverts. Rich brown back and scapulars. Black wings with white lesser wing coverts, single white wingbar and white base to primaries. Pale yellowish edges to secondaries. Brown tail with white outer tail edges. In fall, shows brownish edging on feathers. Adult female: Overall, patterned similarly to male, but much paler. Brownish upper parts and buffy underparts. Grayish face with brownish auricular and contrasting brownish cap and nape. Juvenile: Similar to female.

Length: 15 (cm) Wingspan: 24 (cm)

Habitat:

Shrubby areas with hedgerows, forest edges, open woodlands, agricultural areas, gardens and suburban areas.

Behavior:

Highly migratory, though in northern part of range, females migrate and males do not. In winter, may form loose flocks with other species such as Brambling.

Feeding:

Diet consists of seed, fruit and insects.