Small, sprightly shorebird, often seen in small flocks running back and forth as if chasing the waves. Gray and white in fall and winter; in this plumage, paler than other similarly sized shorebirds. Acquires rusty red tones on head and breast in spring. Juveniles in fall are boldly spangled black-and-white above. Breeds on the tundras of the High Arctic and winters on coastal mudflats and beaches; can also be found along the shorelines of large lakes during migration.