This finch relative forages in dry to semi-humid montane scrub and other open habitats in the Andes. Males are grey; females are browner, and their bill colors differ.
The male is grey overall, with dusky mantle streaks, chestnut undertail coverts, and a pinkish bill. The female has a browner crown, breast, and mantle with heavier streaks and a brown bill.
It forages in dry and semi-humid montane scrub and other semi-open habitats.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.