It was first described in 1785 by French mycologist Jean Baptiste François Pierre Bulliard in 1785 as Agaricus picaceus.

In Europe, the area extends from Great Britain and France in the west to Poland, Hungary and Romania in the east and south to Spain and the Balearic Islands, Italy and Greece and to Germany and Denmark in the north.

Remnants of the white, grayish to cream-colored velum remain on the cap as flakes, giving the impression of woodpecker or magpie plumage.

It is hollow and not very stable, slightly tapered towards the top and covered with scales or fine fibers that form a snake towards the base.

The flesh is whitish with a fibrous, watery consistency and sometimes has an unpleasant smell of moth powder.