Adults are ultimatly light grey on the face and underparts, black and white zebra-like pattren on their back, wings and tail. Males have a red stripe going from the bill to the nape, females have a red patch on the nape and another above the bill. The reddish spot on thier belly tat gives the bird its name is difficult to see in identification. They are 23 to 26 cm long, and have a wingspan of 38 to 44 cm.