Its body is the size of a Wood Pigeon with a very long bill and short tail. Its plumage is a cryptic mixture of brown and buff tones that provide a perfect camouflage against dry leaves or grasses. It is very hard to see as it will crouch close to the ground and only fly when one is almost stepping on it. It is a winter visitor, preferring damp woodland to open spaces. With its long bill it finds worms, grubs, slugs and small insects in the soil.
