This is a water bird. She lives in closed reeds and open water surfaces. The nest is build from different plant material. It lays 5-7 eggs once a year. It primarily feeds on fish, but sometimes it also uses insects and vegetable food. Average body length is 46-51 cm, body weight 0.6-1.5 kg.
The mother bird takes her little ones on her back. The nestling just have their heads out of the wings of the mother.