Adult : 15cms long with grey crown, black around eyes and throat, wings brown and underside ashy white. Female is ashy grey above and ashy white on the underside.

Nests are made of straw, rubbish and feathers in almost any location, niche in wall, rolled garage shutters, under roofing tiles, etc. Eggs, 3-5, pale greenish-white, with brown patches.

A common bird, very much commensal in and around human habitation, whether rural or urban. It is omnivorous, eating grain, insects, fruit buds, flower nectar or kitchen scraps. Sometimes collects in large flocks and descends on crops or grain markets, causing much nuisance and damage. Has become a pest in food handling establishments especially cereal processing or handling industries.