Often mistaken for an egret in flight because of its all-white wings, this medium-sized heron can be distinguished from egrets by its dark head. It inhabits a variety of marshy environments. During the breeding season, adults have a chestnut head, neck, and breast, along with a veil of bluish-black plumes over their white wings. Non-breeding adults and juveniles are brown overall except for their white wings. In regions where multiple pond-heron species overlap, non-breeding individuals and juveniles are often best left unidentified.