Its breeding range extends from northern Europe across Siberia to northeastern China. Another subspecies breeds on islands in the Sea of Okhotsk and in northern Hokkaido.
It is brown overall, paler below, with narrow black streaks on the crown, back, chest, and sides. It has a short tail.
It is usually shy and forages low in dense vegetation. In Hong Kong it is a common autumn passage migrant and appears to pass through quickly.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.