A small and energetic resident breeder and winter visitor found on sandy beaches, mudflats and freshwater marsh. It nests on the ground, laying its egg in a simple bowl scraped out of dry sand or gravel. When disturbed this species will often run rather than fly. At all times it has an unbroken brown (in young birds) or black (in adults) collar with black legs. In summer, males can acquire a bright chestnut-red cap on the head.
