STATUS: Fairly common locally.
HABITAT: Generally inhabits thorny shrub habitats such as mesquite, ebony blackbead, anacua, huisache, and retaima in the Rio Grande delta. Farther north, found in streamside cane, briars, willows, ash, and live oaks.
NEST: Builds a domed or nearly round nest 2 to 5 feet above the ground in tangles of shrubbery, pricklypear, or low shrubs, usually near the center of the plant.
FOOD: Forages on the ground scratching for insects and various seeds. (Little has been reported on food habits.)
REFERENCES: Bent 1968a, Harrison 1979, Oberholser 1974b.