It is found typically at altitudes between 600 and 1600 m in the undergrowth and thickets of semi-open woodland, coffee plantations, hedgerows and large gardens.

[3] Prevost's ground sparrow is on average 15 cm long and weighs 28 g. The adult has a stubby dark-grey bill, unstreaked olive-brown upperparts, a rufous crown and mainly white underparts.

Young birds are browner above, have yellower underparts, and a duller indistinct head pattern.

It has a simple head pattern in which the rufous of the crown extends down the sides of the neck as a half collar behind the white face.

[3] The nest, built by the female, is a neat lined cup constructed less than 2 m up in a bush or large tussock.