This sparrow has a finely streaked brown back, a striped head, and a gray underside. It forages on the ground in scrub. Most records cited here are from north-western Peru, with the species also occurring in Ecuador.
Dark lines run behind the eye and below the cheek. The back is brown with fine streaks, while the underside is mostly plain gray. Its thick bill has a silvery tone at the base.
The account describes it foraging on the ground among shrubs and scrub. It occurs in the lowlands and foothills of north-western Peru, with Peruvian records reaching about 1,200 m. It is described as uncommon.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.