Uniform Crake

Overview

The uniform crake (Amaurolimnas concolor) is a species of rail found across Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America. It is the sole member of its genus and is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, although its population is believed to be decreasing.

Identification

• Medium-sized bird, 20 to 23 cm long, with a medium-length yellowish green bill, red eye, and pinkish red legs.
• Upperparts are olivaceous brown in both living subspecies; underparts vary between brown and rufous brown.
• Song consists of a series of 6–20 upslurred 'tooee' whistles, while pairs maintain contact with clear 'tooo' notes.

Habitat

Inhabits a variety of wet to almost dry landscapes, including wooded swamps, flooded forests, heavily vegetated ravines, and dense vegetation on the edges of secondary forests. Its range extends from sea level to approximately 1,000 m elevation across a highly disjunct distribution in the Americas.

Diet

Mostly forages in cover, searching leaf litter, detritus, and digging in mud with its bill. Its diet comprises earthworms, insects, spiders, small amphibians, lizards, seeds, and berries.

Did you know?

The nominate subspecies, the Jamaican wood rail, which was once part of the species, is now extinct.