- Sarothrura insularis
Identification
14cm.
Male
- Rich chestnut head, neck, breast and tail
- Rest of body black with yellowish streaks on upperparts, white streaks on underparts
Female
- Dark upperparts buff to chestnut streaked and barred
- Ochraceous underparts with black spots on breast and bars on rest of underside
- Chestnut tail with black bars
Immatures are similar to females but duller and more spotting on underparts.
Similar species
The rare Slender-billed Flufftail is almost unstreaked and has ashy-brown underparts. The female is also plain.
Distribution
Endemic to Madagascar, mainly found in the west.
Widespread and common in most of its range.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Forms a superspecies with Striped Flufftail.
Habitat
Wide variety of habitats: secondary bush grassland at edges and in clearings of forest, dense cultivation, marshes with long grass, sometimes in rice paddies.
Occurs from sea-level up to 2300m.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects and seeds.
Breeding poorly known. Probably monogamous and territorial. Breeding season in October, probably also September. The nest is a ball of grass blades, placed on the ground in dense grass. Lays 3-4 eggs.
No movements recorded.
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 1996. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 3: Hoatzin to Auks. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334207
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Madagascar Flufftail. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 7 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Madagascar_Flufftail
