The tattler is a common winter visitor, arriving in August and leaving for Alaskan breeding grounds in April. Some nonbreeding birds may oversummer in Hawaii. Its bill is long, thin, and black.
Legs are yellowish.
In breeding plumage, underparts are finely barred with dark gray. There is no pattern on its wings or tail in flight. It also gives a single call note when startled. Tattlers are usually alone, but are sometimes found in pairs or small flocks. They feed by actively probing into mud or under rocks for mollusks and other invertebrates, often bobbing their tails.