This large, pale waterbird is distinguished by its hefty pinkish-pouched bill, which has notable dark spots on the upper mandible. Its head is grizzled with a hint of a shaggy crest, and the back of the neck is dark. The bird has rings of bare skin around each eye that give it a “glasses” appearance. In breeding plumage, the rump, sides, and underwing coverts are salmon pink, while the breast is ochre yellow. It is often seen fishing in groups at large lakes and estuaries. The bird nests in noisy colonies in trees that are bleached by droppings.