This species’ ethereal song is a distinctive aspect of wet northwestern forests. Polytypic. Length 9.5".

Orange legs and dark bill with yellow mandible base. Male: blue-gray above, orange below, with broad orange supercilia, black auriculars and chest band, complicated pattern of orange-on-black wings, and gray scalloping on flanks and lower belly. Female: similar but upperparts brown; auriculars mostly dark gray; thinner, indistinct chest band gray; wings brown. Juvenile: similar to adult females, but chest heavily scalloped with dark gray-brown; central belly white. Older immatures similar to adults, though males less blue above, females browner; all have browner tails. Flight: similar to the American robin, but orange-and-black wing linings and bold orange wing stripe.

Four subspecies in North America based on female