40-49 cm. In summer plumage it has rather long crests, striped head, brown back, and orange and whitish underparts. Legs yellowish, bill is blue with a dark tip. In flight it looks mainly white. Juvenile and in winter plumage it is more simple patterned.

Habitat
Breeds in reedbeds of marhes and fishponds, and gallery woods, mainly on the Great Plain.