Chunky brown flycatcher with a white throat and brown chest band. Birds in the eastern part of the range show a lot of contrast on the underparts, while western birds are duller. Found in habitats adjacent to water, including papyrus swamp, marsh, riverbanks, and lakeshores. Not very vocal, but the quiet song is a mix of rasps, trills, and high-pitched whistles. Duller western birds can be confused with Cassin’s Flycatcher, which is also often found near water, but are brown rather than gray overall.