Most common around human habitation. Male: Shows a bold facial pattern with a gray crown, chestnut nape and sides of head, whitish cheek, and a black bib covering the throat and upper breast. Upperparts are reddish brown with black and buff streaks, and a bold white upper wing bar. Underparts are pale gray. The bill is black. In fresh plumage in autumn, pale feather edges hide most of the black bib and lighten the chestnut areas on the head. The bill is a dull yellow with dusky culmen and tip. Female: Upperparts are light gray-brown with dark and buff streaks and faint whitish and buff wing bars. The head shows a broad buffy supercilium. Underparts are pale grayish-tan. The bill is pale yellowish with a dusky culmen and tip. Juveniles resemble adult females.

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

Voice:

Song is a long series of identical chirps. Call is a harsh chlip.

Habitat:

Found almost exclusively in human-altered habitats, farms, cities, residential areas.

Behavior:

Nests in cavities. Will aggressively defend cavities from other species. Often raises multiple broods during a single breeding season. When flocks move into cover they typically flock very tightly, with dozens of birds massing in a single bush or shrub.

Feeding:

Forages on the ground for seeds and insects. Occasionally flycatches.