Diet

• Primarily seeds of grasses, sedges, and other herbaceous plants.

• Also feeds on small insects, especially during the breeding season when extra protein is needed.

• Forages mainly on the ground or in low grasses and shrubs, often in pairs or small flocks.

Range

• Found from western and central Mexico south through Central America to Costa Rica.

• Widespread throughout much of Mexico, including the Zihuatanejo region, where it is a common year-round resident.

• Inhabits tropical dry forests, grasslands, brushy fields, thorn scrub, agricultural land, woodland edges, roadsides, gardens, and other open habitats with tall grasses.

Male / Female

• Male: Distinctive black head, throat, and upper breast, a bold white collar around the neck, white underparts, gray back, and black wings and tail with white markings.

• Female: Warm brown to olive-brown upperparts with buffy underparts and a pale throat; lacks the male's black-and-white pattern.

• Juvenile males: Resemble females before gradually acquiring the striking adult plumage.

• The sexes are easily distinguished by their markedly different plumage.

Size

• Length: 10–11 cm (3.9–4.3 in)

• Wingspan: 16–18 cm (6.3–7.1 in)

• Weight: 8–11 g (0.28–0.39 oz)