Family: Emberizidae, New World Sparrows view all from this family

Description 5-5 1/2" (13-14 cm). A gray sparrow with black chin and eye smudge, pink bill, chestnut-streaked mantle, white belly. Thin white wing bars. Female and juveniles lack black facial markings.

Habitat Low, dense chaparral on arid mountain slopes; sagebrush.

Nesting 3 or 4 pale blue, plain or spotted eggs in a grass-lined cup well concealed in a low bush.

Range Breeds from central California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, Arizona, southern New Mexico, and western Texas southward. Winters along Mexican border. 

Voice   The beautiful song is a series of slurred notes, either swee? swee? or chew chew chew, running together into a rapid canary-like trill.

Discussion Very little is known about the habits of this sparrow. Singing males are conspicuous when they sit on top of high bushes; their song carries well through the narrow, brushy canyons they inhabit, but in general the species is shy and secretive.