A large and distinctive inhabitant of marshes, this bird is often elusive and hard to spot in the dense vegetation of wet fields and marshes. The male is easily recognized by its black body, brown-edged wing coverts, and a striking red-and-yellow bill with a raised, spiky red frontal shield, which sets it apart from the smaller moorhen. Females and immatures are similarly large but have brown-speckled plumage on their backs, tan faces, and lack the male’s frontal shield. During the breeding season, males are very vocal, producing a liquid-sounding gulp similar to the sound of a water bottle being emptied. Both sexes also make a variety of sharp, guttural clucking and creaking calls, and emit a distinct “keek” when alarmed.