This prairie species is uniquely shaped, with its small round head, short straight bill, long neck, long legs, and long tail. The bill is mostly yellow, with a dark tip and upper edge. The legs are yellow. Adult: Dark brown upperparts with buff mottling. The eye appears large, giving the bird a pigeon-headed look. The underparts are white with dark streaks on the breast and barring on the sides. Juvenile: Very similar to adult, but with clearer scaly pattern on the upperparts.

Length: 28 (cm) Wingspan: 43 (cm)

Voice:

Male courtship song is a long slurred wolf whistle, rising and then falling. Flight call is a liquid series of whistled notes, pipipipipipipi.

Habitat:

Tall grass prairie, mixed grass prairie, airports.

Behavior:

Males sing from exposed perches, including fence posts and power lines. On breeding grounds, flies with shallow fluttering wing beats, like a Spotted Sandpiper. Uses more powerful direct flight in migration.

Feeding:

Feeds on insects and other invertebrates on or near the ground.