This sparrow occurs from Mexico through Central America. Dry shrubland is its main habitat, with additional records from grassland, pasture, farmland, and woodland.
The BirdLife profile image shows black-and-white streaks on the head, a brown back, and pale underparts.
BirdLife lists dry shrubland as the major habitat, with dry grassland, woodland, pasture, and arable land also suitable. The factsheet gives an elevation range of 0–1,800 m and classifies it as non-migratory.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.