This species closely resembles black-winged lapwing but is smaller, has a narrow, black border to the breast, less white on the forehead and a slight greenish tinge to the upperparts. In flight both the upperwings and the underwings show completely white secondaries.
Juvenile is less clearly marked than adult and has the upperparts spotted with buff.
Dry, open, short-grass areas in savanna, especially where these have been recently burnt.
A clear, double-noted 'teeyoo, teeyoo'.