Blackish Rail

Overview

The blackish rail (Pardirallus nigricans) is a species of bird in the subfamily Rallinae, characterised by its secretive nature and patchy distribution across South America. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with an estimated population of up to 67,000 mature individuals.

Identification

• 27 to 29 cm long with unmarked dark brown upperparts and a dark gray face.
• A white chin and throat, with the P. n. caucae subspecies displaying a larger, whiter throat patch and paler underparts.
• Long yellow-green bill and pinkish legs.
• Song described as a 'very sharp, loud, penetrating, repeated "whuueeee" or "wheee"', alongside calls such as a 'very fast, metallic "tii'd'dit"' and 'rapid, repeated "chchchee"'.

Habitat

Found across Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, and possibly Bolivia, this species inhabits wet landscapes including marshes, heavily vegetated waterways, rice fields, wet grasslands, and lightly wooded swamps. It is mostly a bird of the lowlands but occurs in the Andes between 800 and 2,200 m, with one record at approximately 4,100 m in Peru.

Diet

The blackish rail usually forages in cover but occasionally in the open at vegetation edges or in small clear areas. Its specific diet is not known but is assumed to consist of insects and other invertebrates, with one recorded instance of an individual venturing into a restaurant garden for food scraps.

Did you know?

One nest of either the blackish or plumbeous rail was discovered as a cup placed among shoots on a stump in a swamp, containing two or three eggs. The black downy chicks are precocial, leaving the nest soon after hatching, and both parents share the responsibility of caring for them.