Males have black head and back, white chest and wings, a gray tail, no crest, and long slender red-orange bill. They are year around resident and stay along clear water lakes, ponds and streams of the lowland forests. They tend to nest in halow trees, in crevices of cliffs, or on the ground under cover. They feed on leeches, frogs, fish eggs, small fish, and anything they can eat. They average between 20 to 29 inches of length.
Males have a brown head, long neck with white breast, gray body and a long pointed tail feathers.
Females are plain brown, no eye stripe, gray bill and shorter tail feathers. They are year around resident and are found in marshes, ponds, and slow streams of the lowland. They nest on the ground near fresh water in tall grass. They feed on seeds, pondweed, snails, aquatic insects and leeches. Male's breeding plumage is slate blue and rust with lots of stripe and ear spots.