This bittern has finely patterned buff-and-brown plumage on its crown and body. It hides in dense freshwater marshes and usually forages at night.
The upperparts are barred dark brown and buff. A sooty-brown forehead leads into a finely patterned dark-and-buff crown; pale underparts have rufous streaks. Males have slate-black tails, while females have brown tails and tend to be smaller.
It is mostly nocturnal and usually solitary. It walks slowly through water or waits motionless to catch fish, frogs, snakes, and insects.
It nests alone just above the water in dense vegetation, building a platform of dried reeds and other plants. Clutches contain two or three eggs. Males raise their neck ruff when defending territories.
Juveniles resemble adults but are paler, with less bold barring on the upperparts.
The subspecies in southeastern Mexico and Belize is generally paler than the nominate form, with sandy face sides, nearly white underparts, and less streaking on the lower throat.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.