Black-tailed Crake

Overview

The black-tailed crake (Zapornia bicolor) is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Slate-gray plumage with a chestnut brown back
• Red eyes
• Slender pinkish-red legs

Habitat

This species inhabits subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. Its range includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam.

Diet

The black-tailed crake is omnivorous, consuming a wide variety of foods including invertebrates, insects, fish, frogs, aquatic plant seeds, bird eggs, worms, mollusks, grass and berries. Notably, its insect diet particularly consists of parasites fed off large animals.

Did you know?

Its diet includes bird eggs and parasites that are extracted from large animals.