A small bird of open country in North America that searches the ground for seeds and insects. Short feathers on the male’s head can rise like tiny horns.
North American males have a black facial mask and breast band, with regional variation in head and throat color. Short feathers may rise like small horns, but are not always visible. Females are paler than males, and juveniles are mostly brown.
It favors open places with short or sparse plants and walks on the ground to eat seeds and insects. In winter it may form large flocks with other birds.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.