Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed, the forehead rounded. Body rather slender, ovate. Tail of moderate length, slightly rounded, of twelve rather narrow feathers, which taper a little towards their rounded extremities. Bill orange in its basal half, the rest black. Forehead, sides of the face, throat, and the whole under parts, pure white.
Upper parts pale brownish-grey.
A black band across the upper part of the forehead, another surrounds the lower part of the neck, broad on the sides, but narrow above and below, where it is formed merely by the tips of some of the feathers. Above this is a white band over the hind neck, also very narrow above. Weight 3 oz. Female in summer. The female is considerably smaller, but resembles the male in colouring, only the dark bands on the forehead and neck are narrower, and of a dusky-brown tint.