This ibis lives in Andean wetlands. Breeding adults have a chestnut head through upper breast and a black body with greenish iridescence.
Breeding adults have a chestnut head, neck, and upper breast, with a red face. The rest of the body is black with greenish iridescence; the bill is pink and the legs grey.
In the highlands it uses muddy water edges and wet grassland. The Peru-focused account gives about 3,200–4,500 m for common Andean records and notes seasonal use of selected coastal wetlands.
It is usually in small groups and probes the ground with its downcurved bill to find food.
Nonbreeding adults and immatures have white streaking on the head and neck and a duller face. Juveniles are dull black overall.
In flight, the feet project only a short distance beyond the tail tip.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.