Rather nondescript thrush-sized brown bird with a darker face and throat. The belly is pallid and the undertail white (north part of range) or yellow (south part of range). Often in small flocks and not easily missed due to its noisy, repetitive, and powerful song. Also frequently makes harsh chattering calls. Present in many wooded habitats, absent only from dense forest or treeless desert. Often found in well-vegetated areas in dry landscapes such as gardens, orchards, and oases.