Small heron with thick pointed bill and relatively short legs. In flight, white wings contrast strongly with body. Adult Breeding male: Rich chestnut-maroon head, neck and breast with slate purple patch on lower breast. White throat and chin. Bill is school bus yellow with a dark (near black) tip, bluish base to upper mandible. Lores are yellowish and the irises are yellow. Back is dark blue. Wings are white with variable brownish smudge on wing coverts; white belly, rump, and tail. Yellow legs and feet. Basic Adult: Streaky dark brown head, neck and breast. White throat. Yellow bill with dark tip. Yellow lores and yellow iris. Solid dark brownish back. White wings, belly, rump and tail. Yellow legs and feet. Juvenile: Similar to Basic Adult. Buffy head and neck with brown streaks. Solid brown back.

Length: 46 (cm) Wingspan: 86 (cm)

Habitat:

Salt and fresh water wetlands, ponds and lakes.

Behavior:

Nests in mixed colonies. Forages by stalking then grabbing prey.

Feeding:

Diet consists of fish, crabs, frogs, mollusks and insects.