Bold red eye. It takes 3 years for full adult plumage to develop. Immature plumage is dull and heavily streaked grayish brown. As birds mature the plumage morphs into adult appearance. 1st spring birds retain chest and lower wing streaking, 2nd spring birds resemble adults except black plumage is dull brown.
Legs are greenish-yellow.
A noisy krok, krok, krok call and low guttural wok . Calls when disturbed and at night. Marshes, forest, rivers and streams. Can be found roosting in communal flock in trees along river. At dusk many can be seen and heard leaving roosts to hunt along Kern River.