Alternative names: Platen's Rail; Celebes Rail
- Aramidopsis plateni
Identification
30cm. A flightless rail.
- mostly grey
- chin white
- hindneck with rufous patches
- wings rufous brown
- lower belly with black and white barring
- tail short. Looks tailless in field
- legs and feet heavy: dark grey
- bill long heavy with a reddish or yellowish base
Females have a brighter rufous hindneck and less white on chin. Their bill base is reddish (yellowish in males).
Similar species
Blue-faced Rail is similar in size but very different in plumage.
Buff-banded Rail has a distinctive head pattern
Slaty-breasted Rail is smaller and has barred upperparts.
Distribution
Sulawesi endemic. South East Asia: Indonesia: Greater Sundas. Found in north, north-central and southeast of the island.
Rare and elusive. Known from 11 specimens collected before 1940 and only a few sightings in recent times. Deforestation and introduced or feral predators are the biggest threat to this species.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Habitat
Dense liana and bamboo secondary growth on borders of highland and lowland rainforest. Recent observations in Lore Lindu National Park in impenetrable secondary vegetation.
Behaviour
Feeds possibly on large crabs and lizards. Recorded foraging in mountain streams and in a shallow muddy gulley. Breeding poorly known. An adult with two chicks was seen in August.
Vocalisation
The bird's call is snoring-like sound ee-orrrr.
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. (2025) Snoring Rail. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 April 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Snoring_Rail
