They have bare red skin around their brown eye and reddish orange legs and feet.

It inhabits a variety of wet landscapes including swamps, marshes, lagoons, riverbanks, and seasonally flooded river plains.

[3] The northern screamer is essentially sedentary but local wandering by non-breeders and juveniles is suspected.

[3] The northern screamer feeds on the leaves, stems, and roots of aquatic plants.

It has a somewhat limited range and its estimated population of between 1500 and 7000 mature individuals is believed to be decreasing.

The species is also affected by egg collecting and hunting for food, domestic and industrial pollution of its habitat, and urbanization.