- They are frequently found navigating dense reeds, floating vegetation, and cattails
- Adults sport a striking, bright red forehead shield and a red bill tipped in a vibrant yellow (often called the "candy corn bill")
- Unlike ducks, they lack webbed feet ... instead, they possess exceptionally long, slender, drab-yellow toes designed to distribute their weight so they can walk directly on top of floating lily pads and soft mud
- They are incredibly noisy, issuing sharp, loud whinnies, squawks, and cackles from deep within the reeds