Skulky, odd and vocal homebodies. Common in West coast. Timing: year-round. Prefers shrub and chaparral along coast; thickets and forests inland. Medium with a small, sharp bill; plumage is brown, buff, gray. Closest relatives are not in North America. Mate for life. Male and female both incubate eggs. Extremely sedentary – rarely go more than 1300 feet from birthplace. Diet includes insects, fruits and seeds. Oldest wild individual recorded was 13, average being 3.5. Population ~ 15 million.