This plover is resident in much of west Africa, mainly on inland rivers, pools and lakes.

It has long wings and a long tail, and therefore looks different from most other small plovers in flight, the exception being the closely related three-banded plover which replaces it in eastern and southern Africa and Madagascar.

The breeding adult has dark brown upperparts, and the underparts are white except for the two black breast bands, separated by a white band, which give this species its common and scientific names.

The head is strikingly patterned, with a black crown, brown forehead, white supercilia extending from above the eyes to meet on the back of the neck, and a grey face.

In non-breeding adults, the breast bands may be dark brown, and the supercilia buff-tinged.