Bird Description

Fairly common in suitable habitat: tall grass with bushes or cactus. Very difficult to see except when singing from perch or in skylarking display flight, usually 4 whistles or trills at different pitches: 'please come with me.' ID: Large and fat with a long rounded tail and small-headed appearance emphasized by narrow-based bill. First impression is of a bird with very complex upperparts; try describing each feather's pattern! Underparts with subtle buff breast band of fine streaks, gray belly, and pale throat with malar. Flanks streaked. Upperparts have well-defined pale fringes, small complex black internal markings, and relatively dark ear coverts.