Busy, expert singer. Common in West coast, Southwest, Texas and southern Midwest. Timing: year-round. Prefers brushy scrub and thickets with open woodland. Small with a thin, curved bill; plumage is monotypic/Brown and buff/white. Severe declines in the east in the 20th century primarily due to house wrens. Monogamous in a season. Learn songs from nearby males when 1-2 months old. Diet includes insects and invertebrates; some seeds and fruit in winter. Oldest wild individual recorded was 8. Population ~ 44 million.