Small species, sexually monomorphic. Grayish underside with a back streaked with black, cream, and brown.
Montana Range
Observations in Montana: 341
Montana CountiesBeaverhead, Big Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Deer Lodge, Fallon, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Garfield, Glacier, Golden Valley, Granite, Hill, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, Lincoln, Madison, McCone, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Musselshell, Park, Phillips, Powder River, Powell, Prairie, Ravalli, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sanders, Sheridan, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Teton, Toole, Valley, Wheatland, Yellowstone
Bozeman area normal migration periods are from October 27 to December 20 and March 5 to 25. The spring peak is March 15.
Found near tree lines, or open areas with scattered trees. Commonly winters in neighborhood gardens and feeders.
Diet includes spiders, seeds of grass, sedge, forbs, buds, and berries.
Single brooded species with 3-5 eggs per hatch. Incubation period 12-13 days. Eggs pale-blue to greenish-white. Nests found on ground in shallow depressions; rarely in shrubs and low trees.