Feeding Behavior

Forages on the ground, moving about rather slowly among grass clumps. Almost always forages alone.

Eggs

4-5, sometimes 3-6. Grayish white, heavily spotted with reddish brown. Incubation is by the female only, about 11-12 days. Young: Both parents feed young (but the female may do more at first). Young leave the nest after about 8-10 days, before they are able to fly, and are fed by their parents for at least another 1-2 weeks. 1 brood per year.

Young

Both parents feed young (but the female may do more at first). Young leave the nest after about 8-10 days, before they are able to fly, and are fed by their parents for at least another 1-2 weeks. 1 brood per year.

Diet

Mostly insects and seeds. Diet varies with season. In summer feeds mainly on insects, including grasshoppers, caterpillars, moths, beetles, leafhoppers, and others, as well as spiders and seeds. Young birds are fed mostly grasshoppers and caterpillars. Diet at other seasons is mostly seeds of weeds and grasses.

Nesting

May nest in small, loose colonies. To defend nesting territory, male sings from the top of a tall grass stem, weed, or low bush. Courtship display of male may involve walking on ground, fluttering one wing at a time over his back, repeatedly bowing. Nest site is on the ground in a grassy area, well hidden and hard to find. Usually in a slight depression so the rim of the nest is level with the ground, sometimes tucked under a dense overhanging grass clump or built within the base of such a clump. Nest (probably built by the female) is a shallow open cup made of dry grass, sometimes with some weeds added; may be lined with fine grass, animal hair, moss.