A rare shorebird of semi-arid steppes, rangelands, and open country. Brown-gray tones above with a prominent head pattern—a pale supercilium bordered by a dark eye-stripe and crown. In summer plumage the upper belly is dark. In flight shows a three-toned wing pattern of brown, black, and white similar to White-tailed Lapwing, but note the dark-tipped tail on Sociable Lapwing and the dark (not yellow) legs.