Montane valleys are occupied locally, as are hay fields. Breeds locally on western slope of Cascade Range, in upper Kern Basin, Kern Co., and at Baldwin Lake in San Bernardino Mts. At Salton Sea, winters uncommonly in desert riparian habitat, primarily in saltcedar scrub at river mouths. East of Sierra Nevada, winters locally north through Owens Valley. Eats mostly grass and other seeds, insects, snails, and spiders.
Invertebrates predominate in breeding season, seeds are more important remainder of year.
Requires dense ground cover in breeding season. In winter, seeks similar cover in a variety of moist and dry grasslands, croplands, and in low vegetation along beaches and shorelines. Yearlong, diurnal activity. May. Montane breeding populations mostly move downslope to winter. Subject to predation by hawks, snakes, and small mammals.