A large redstart with an elongated build and upright posture. Adult male is black with a white cap and orange belly. Namesake white wing patch is only present in the males; its true extent only becomes visible in flight. Female is a warm brown with darker wings and an orange tail; her size and posture differentiate her from other plain female redstarts. Breeds in open alpine areas with sparse to no cover; one of a handful of birds found in the high glacial passes of the Himalayas.