The breeding (summer) plumage of the male is buff above and white with a buff tinge on the chest. He has a black face and throat extending to the shoulders, with a distinct white curving streak above its eyes (known as superciliary stripe). The tail is black.
The female is greyer above and buffer below and has no black on the throat, and in the winter plumage the black on the throat of the male is obscured by white tips.