Rufous-sided Crake

Overview

The rufous-sided crake is a species of bird in the subfamily Rallinae of the family Rallidae, comprising rails, gallinules, and coots. It is found in every mainland South American country except Chile.

Identification

• Length 14 to 18 cm, with dark olive brown upperparts and rufous face and breast sides.
• White throat and breast centre, with flanks and belly barred in white and blackish brown.
• Bill features a grey maxilla with a pea green cutting edge and a pale pea green mandible tipped in white.
• Song is described as a rubbery musical trill, accompanied by high-pitched tinkling calls, a short 'treeeeeng', and a harsh descending 'djreer'.

Habitat

The species primarily inhabits freshwater marshes, flooded pastures, and the edges of ponds and oxbow lakes. Its range extends from coastal Venezuela east through the Guianas and from central and eastern Brazil south into northern Argentina.

Diet

The rufous-sided crake forages in mud and vegetation, typically in dense grassy cover or nearby. Its diet consists mainly of small arthropods, with seeds and leaves also consumed.

Did you know?

The nest is constructed as a globe of leaves lined with leaf shreds, dry grass, and feathers, featuring a side entrance. It is placed on or just above the ground.