흰목물떼새는 몸길이가 20㎝ 정도이며, 흰색 이마에 머리 꼭대기와 뒷목·등·어깨·깃·허리·윗꼬리 덮깃은 잿빛 갈색을 띤다.
The long-billed ringed plover is about 20cm long, with a white forehead, top of the head, back neck, back, shoulders, feathers, waist, and upper tail coverings with grayish-brown color.