Brownish face, crown, and upperparts. Buffy underparts with dark streaks on breast and flanks. Has fine black streaks on its back. White eye ring. White streak above eye. Black tail with white outer feathers. Thin, pointy bill. Black legs. Has less heavily streaked underparts and grayer upperparts during Spring and Summer. Sexes similar. Sparrow-sized. 6 to 7 inches in length.

Arctic and alpine tundra. Beaches, sparse fields, and agricultural land during migration and winter.

Nesting

4-5 gray eggs with thick brown spots and black streaks. The eggs have an 13-15 day incubation period. Fledging occurs in 13-15 days. The nest is an open cup of grass and twigs built on the ground. This bird breeds in some of the harshest environments in North America; the arctic and alpine tundra in Alaska and British Columbia.