Looks like a very long-tailed short-billed wren. Dark brown or gray brown above. Underparts paler reddish brown with a pinkish cast to the breast. Flanks are grayish brown and wings are medium brown. Plain gray or brown head. Light-eyed. Bill is very small, short and pointed. Long tail held straight or cocked slightly upward. Dark legs. Birds that inhabit more northerly forests and wetter coastal areas are darker and redder, while those found in arid chaparral habitats are paler and grayer.

Length: 16 (cm) Wingspan: 18 (cm)

Voice:

Call: dry, rattling, trilling trrrrk. Song: Accelerating, bouncing, and descending in pitch: bip bip bip bipbipbipbipbip. Also slow, regular, pwip pwip pwip pwip or bip bip bip bip bip.

Habitat:

Dense coastal shrubs, chaparral, and forests with thick understory.

Behavior:

Forages by picking at bark and foliage. Rarely strays from dense cover since they are extremely weak fliers.

Feeding:

Diet consists of insects, spiders, fruits and seeds.