Scarce and very local. A rather plain, easily overlooked, small seed-eating bird. Usually found as singles or pairs in association with seeding bamboo in forested areas from lowlands to highlands, but mainly in foothills. From Chiapas to South America, male is dull dark bluish overall and female is rich brown overall. In southwest Mexico, male is paler and more denim-blue overall; female is grayish brown. Note the mostly gray bill, which is smaller than bill of Blue Bunting, and subtly different in shape from bill of Varied Bunting.