The sides of the neck are pale brown and the body, wings and tail are bluish-grey with much dark barring on the flanks.

It is found on grassy slopes and stony ground with a reasonable amount of vegetation cover, from near sea level to an altitude of about 1,400 metres (4,600 ft).

[5] A ground-dwelling bird, it feeds on seeds, other plant material such as Mediterranean grass and cudweed, and small invertebrates.

[4] The breeding season starts in March and a clutch of five to eight eggs is laid in a shallow scoop on the ground.

The eggs are pale buff flecked with brown and are incubated for about 25 days before hatching into precocial young that are soon able to leave the nest.