A small, thrush-shaped bird with a striking black-and-white tail that is most obvious in flight. Across much of its range, the breeding male appears pale overall, with a grey back, buff-toned throat, black mask, and black wings. The breeding female is plainer and lacks the mask. Outside the breeding season, and in immature plumage, birds are largely warm buff with a faint eyebrow and no bold black in the wings. It stands tall on relatively long legs and is usually seen on the ground or on low perches. Mainly a Eurasian species, it has a small breeding foothold in Alaska. It nests in open areas of rock and short grass and winters in similarly open country such as grasslands and stony plains. The song is a varied jumble of whistles, trills, and occasional mimicry, while calls include a high “weet,” a dry rattle, and repeated “chak” notes.