It is dove-sized but with larger wings and tail. The plumage is greyish-brown, mottled with buffish-yellow making it almost impossible to see on the ground, where it nests. It is an insectivorous bird, feeding at dusk and at night, taking its prey in flight with its enormous gape. It does not usually perch in trees, spending its time either in flight or on the ground. It is a summer breeding visitor to Extremadura.