This secretive migrant uses marshes with dense vegetation. It breeds in northern East Asia and winters in Southeast Asia. Black-and-white bars extend from its flanks across the lower belly.
It has a greyish back, lighter brown face and underparts, and extensive black-and-white barring on the vent that reaches the lower belly. Juveniles have paler head-sides and breast, and browner legs.
It is solitary and secretive. During breeding it uses lowland marshes and meadows with dense grass or shrubs. Reported food includes crustaceans, insects, and seeds.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.