Length: 6.5-7.5 in. long
Weight: 26-31g
Insects, snails and seeds of wild and cultivated grasses
Three to five eggs per clutch, average is four; all incubation by female ; incubation 11-12 days and young fledge in 9-10 days; documented nesting successfully twice; commonly parasitized by cowbirds
Documented living at least five years and eleven months
Populations seem to benefit from the abandonment of agricultural land in their breeding
range. The effect of tropical agricultural practices and deforestation in the wintering
range is unknown. Problems in suburban areas include feral and domestic cats, and
cowbirds heavily parasitize this bird. Lack of basic information on this species makes
managing for it difficult.