This small duck has a red bill in males and a black bill in females. It feeds on aquatic plants, small animals, and grains in marshes and small water bodies.
The male has a red bill, more green on the wings, and head sides grading from brown near the bill to pale gray behind. The female has a black bill and white marks beside the bill base and above the eyes.
It feeds in marshes and small lakes on aquatic plants, crustaceans, mollusks, insects, earthworms, and grains. It nests near wetlands; young stay with the pair until able to fly.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.