A striking, elegant wader with a long, wispy crest. Quite common in open country such as grassland, farmland, wetlands, and in places along coastal mudflats, though numbers have fallen in some regions due to changes in land use. From late summer into winter it gathers into flocks that can number in the hundreds or even thousands. Its bold black-and-white pattern stands out, and the back shows a green sheen in good light. In flight it has deep, slightly floppy wingbeats, and during the breeding season performs steep, tumbling display dives. The wing tips are broad and rounded rather than sharply pointed like those of many other waders.