Small bunting with a black and white head pattern and heavily streaked back. Small dark bill, dark legs, and white outer tail feathers. Male: Pale grayish upperparts with heavy black streaking on back. Wings grayish brown with one conspicuous white wingbar; tips of median coverts weak, and white wingbar on tip of lesser coverts. Black head and throat with white collar and submoustachial stripe. White underparts. Sparse dark streaking on flanks. Female: Browner overall, gray-brown upperparts and pale buffy-gray rump. Black streaking on back. Lightly streaked crown and nape. White eyeline and throat with grayish-white underparts. Sparse, short brown streaks on sides. Very similar to Reed Bunting, but lacks rusty-rufous upperparts and wing coverts, is smaller, and has shorter tail and smaller bill.

Length: 13 (cm) Wingspan: 23 (cm)

Habitat:

Breeds in reedy fields near marshes or river bottoms. Winters in grasslands, wetlands, and damp fields.

Behavior:

Forages low down in shrubs or on the ground. Frequently flicks tail.

Feeding:

Feeds on seeds and insects.