Unmistakable tricolored bird, with bold red, black, and white patches. Red hood and throat, black mask, mostly black back and tail, and white underparts. Sexes similar. Often found in groups of juveniles and adults near water in riverine forests, scrub, and savanna, mostly in lowlands. Song a clear “FEEup-feep! Fueet-feeut! Fueet-feep feep.” Formerly considered conspecific with the very similar Red-capped Cardinal, but no range overlap.