A sturdy heron relative that moves quietly through reeds while searching for fish and other prey.
It has a thick, sturdy body with buff-brown plumage marked by dark streaks and bars, and broad, rounded wings.
It moves quietly through reeds beside water and hunts eels, fish, and amphibians. Males give a deep call that carries far in spring.
The female builds a reed platform lined with finer plants. Clutches contain three to seven eggs, usually four or five; she alone incubates for 25–26 days, starting with the first egg.
Adults have black crowns, yellow eyes, and green lores. Males are larger than females; the southern African subspecies is slightly smaller and darker than the nominate form.
Juveniles are similar to adults but paler, with browner crowns. Their moustache streaks are less distinct and brown rather than black.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.