Large, long-legged upland shorebird. Boldly marked with a white face and throat framed by a black nape and breast band. In the southern part of the range, the wing is mostly white with a black patch at the tip; in the north, the wing is half black and half white. Usually found singly or in pairs. Core habitat is wetlands with floating vegetation, but can sometimes be found in other wetland habitats like mudflats. The call is a long, dry series of high-pitched ticking notes. A distinctive species that is unlikely to be confused.