The saxaul sparrow uses desert saxaul groves and wooded areas near water. A Kazakhstan regional account lists seeds and insects as foods.
In the Kazakhstan account, males are gray to yellowish gray with dark markings on the head and throat. Females are duller, and the subspecies differ in color intensity.
It uses groves near water and saxaul stands, feeding on seeds and insects. The regional account describes both resident birds and short-distance migrants.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.