A heron of dim lowland forests that walks the forest floor in search of earthworms and other small animals.
Adults have reddish-brown upperparts, paler buff underparts, and a short crest at the back of the head. The sexes look almost alike.
It walks the forest floor to find earthworms and other small soil animals. After arriving at breeding areas, it often gives a low call after sunset or before sunrise.
In Japan it lays two to five white eggs; both parents incubate and feed chicks. An individual egg takes 27–28 days from laying to hatching.
Juveniles are darker than adults, with more black-and-white vermiculation on the head and wings. Their bills are yellower and their legs more yellow-green.
The eyes are yellow, with pale yellow-green skin around and in front of them turning light blue during breeding. The flight feathers are black with reddish-brown tips.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.