Measurements:[3] The black-throated sparrow is pale gray above, with a distinctive black and white head pattern.

It has a loose nest of grass twigs and plant fibers carefully hidden in brush 6–18 inches (15–46 cm) above the ground.

Black-throated sparrows are habitat-generalist species, using a wide range of plants as habitats to build their nests in.

[4] However, they find less breeding success in lower-climate habitats like mesquite,[5] perhaps due to human-caused climate change.

[citation needed] They mainly forage on the ground around bushes and cacti and sometimes glean food from leaves and twigs.