15 cm (6") Fairly common. Southwestern United States. Dry grasslands, shrubs, cactus, mesquite.
Streaked gray-brown upperparts. Unstreaked underparts. Long rounded dark gray-brown tail with white tips (seen best in flight).
Secretive. Told best from similar Botteri's Sparrow, where their ranges overlap in southeastern Arizona, by song which unlike Botteri's is often given in flight.
Song: musical trill sandwiched between 2-3 lower introductory notes and 2 lower ending notes.