This bird forages in Andean scrub, grassland, and other open habitats. Its upperparts have intricate dark markings and pale streaks, with a fine dark line behind the eye.
The adult has a curved bill and a thin dark line running from behind the eye along the sides of the head. The upperparts are intricately marked with dark spots and pale streaks; the greyish chest has pale spots. The lower belly is brown, with color varying by subspecies.
It forages in open grassland with shrubs, Andean scrub, and agricultural fields. Peruvian records also include dry deciduous forest in the northwest and coastal lomas.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.