Bird Description

Uncommon breeder on damp open tundra. Winters in ankle-high grass. On migration look for large '1-ft-high' stubble fields with wet patches and lots of fox grass. Feeds quietly, tending to walk away rather than fly. Quiet rattled call in flight. Much more white in tail (like VESP) than LALO, look for this when bird flushed. ID: Ad ? br: striking black-and-white head pattern, orange underparts. White lesser coverts. Ad ? nonbr/ad ?/1st-yr: all similar. First impression is of a brown bird with bright buff underparts. Look for pale spot in ear coverts and bold eyering to confirm ID. Other features include finely streaked breast, fairly long primary projection, and thin bill.