This sparrow spends most of its time on the ground in heavy cover. Upperparts are grayish olive. The head and underparts are pale gray, lighter on the throat and belly with buffy undertail coverts. The crown has dull brown lateral stripes. The face shows a brown eye stripe and thin white eye ring. Bill is fairly long, with a dark upper mandible and yellow lower mandible. Juvenile is buffy overall with pale wingbars and blurry streaking on the underparts.

Length: 14 (cm) Wingspan: 23 (cm)

Voice:

Song is a series of chips, accelerating to a rapid trill.

Habitat:

Woodlands with thick understory, brushy field edges.

Behavior:

Often hops on the ground with tail cocked.

Feeding:

Forages for seeds and insects, usually on or close to the ground.