This wetland bird has long toes that let it walk on floating vegetation. Its native range is split among separate areas of Africa.
The crown, nape, and hindneck are bluish black; the face and neck are white, and a broad black band crosses the breast. The sexes look alike.
Its long toes help it walk over floating vegetation. It feeds in wetlands on aquatic insects and snails and may move locally when dry conditions make habitat unsuitable.
Nests may be scrapes on ground exposed by receding water, vegetation cups on floating plants, or platforms in shallow water.
The usual clutch is four eggs, incubated by both sexes for 27 days. Both parents care for the chicks for about eight weeks after hatching.
The upperparts are grey-brown, the legs and bill are red, and the bill has a black tip. The eyes and narrow eye-rings are also red.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.