This medium-sized wader (about 30 cm / 12 inches long) is easily identified by its bold, high-contrast plumage:
- White forehead/crown contrasting with a black face, neck, and breast.
- Pale grey upperparts and wing coverts.
- White belly and underparts.
- Long black legs and a relatively short black bill.
- In adults, the overall pattern is clean black-white-grey (juveniles are duller and more mottled/brownish).
