The long feathers in front of the eyes of the red-legged seriema are unique to this species and can grow up to 10 centimetres long in males. The male is slightly larger than the female, but otherwise they look very similar.
Red-legged seriemas rarely fly — only when they need to reach a tree or escape a predator. Instead, they rely on their long red legs for speed and can run at up to 70 km/h.
They live in lightly wooded or savanna-like habitats, where they call and sing early in the morning to mark their territory. The male and female often sing together in a kind of duet. Seriemas enjoy sunbathing, and when they lie on their side to soak up the sun, they can easily be mistaken for being dead.