Photo Credit: By VINCE LITTLE, The Bayonet
The bird is about the same size as a cardinal — roughly 8.7 inches long with a wingspan of 13.8 inches. Its feathers are black and white with white bars on the back. The underside is white to gray with black spots along the sides of the breast. Males and females look similar, but males have a spot of red feathers or “cockade” on each side of the head, which are rarely exposed, and females are slightly smaller. Both sexes also have a distinctive black cap and white cheek patch.