This fairly common but often hard-to-spot small diving bird is found in wetlands with surrounding reeds and vegetation. It tends to stay hidden, only occasionally venturing out into open water, mostly during winter. The bird is compact, with a rounded head and a puffed-up rear end. It is usually seen alone or in small, loose groups, often resting during the day. In breeding plumage, the bird appears mostly dark, with a distinctive dark rusty head and neck sides and a yellow patch at the base of the bill. Outside the breeding season, it has a more muted pale brownish appearance overall, with a dark cap on its head.