Its head, neck and breast are red-brown, with a paler version of that color on the throat.

The underwing is barred black and white, the bill green, and the legs grey-brown.

Red-necked crakes live in the Moluccas, Lesser Sundas, New Guinea lowlands and adjacent islands, and north-eastern Australia.

With a large range and no evidence of significant decline, this species is assessed as being of least concern.

The species is little studied and seldom seen due to its secretive nature, but appears to be locally common in New Guinea.