Montana Field Guide

Adults sexually monomorphic. Crown and back rusty-brown, sides of head light gray. White eye-ring with rusty-brown streak behind eye and on ear coverts. Greater and middle wing coverts tipped with white forming two wing bands. Tail brown, feathers edged with pale gray. Underparts whitish to pale gray, unstreaked. Pinkish bill and legs are distinctive. Juveniles duller in color (Carey, Burhans, and Nelson 1994).

Generally in successional old fields, woodland openings and edges, roadsides and railroads near open fields of eastern United States and southern Canada. Does not breed close to human habitation (Carey, Burhans, and Nelson 1994).

Winter: small seeds, primarily grasses. Breeding season: small seeds, adult and larval insects (Judd 1901, Martin et al 1951). Forages on ground or low-lying vegetation primarily in open grassy or brushy fields (Carey, Burhans, and Nelson 1994).

Most nests found in or within a short distance of shrubs or saplings. Nest and open cup. Eggs short subelliptical, smooth, white or creamy background, sometimes tinted very pale bluish or greenish, spotted. Clutch size ranges 3-5 eggs. First egg date in Missouri laid from 29 Apr - 10 Aug; earliest hatch 15 May. In Pennsylvania, first egg dates 4 May - 27 Jul; earliest chick hatch 20 May (Carey, Burhans, and Nelson 1994).