A medium-sized, fairly common chicken-like bird of marshes, meadows, ditches, riversides, and even parks and farmlands near human habitation. It is often seen foraging in the open. Adults have a dark slaty coloration on their backs and white underparts, with a rusty patch under the tail. Juveniles look similar but are less vibrant in color. The bird has a highly variable song, consisting of a series of hooting, grunting, or rasping notes or phrases, repeated monotonously, often from a visible perch.