Gray upperparts. White throat, belly, and undertail coverts. Olive wash on breast. Triangular head with pale band across forehead. Non-prominent white eye ring, which is sometimes thicker behind the eye. Long and narrow bill with dark upper mandible; lower mandible primarily yellowish or pink with a dark tip. White wing bars. Tail is slightly notched and has white outer edges. Immatures have slightly brownish upperparts, and buffy underparts and wing bars. Sexes similar. 6 inches in length.

Sagebrush, pinyon pine and juniper, or open ponderosa pine forests.

Nesting

3-4 dull white eggs. The eggs have a 14 day incubation period. Fledging occurs in 16 days. The nest is a woven cup of grass built low in sagebrush or a small tree.