A diminutive speacies resembling red-billed teal, from which it differs by its blue (not red) bill and the dark smudge on its creamy cheeks.
In flight, male has a green speculum with white secondaries, and a black and white underwing. Female lacks the green speculum. Juvenile is duller than adult.
Mainly inland on small water bodies, often close to floating vegetation.
Soft quacks.