- Laterallus exilis
Identification
14-15.5 cm (5½-6 in)
- Pale grey head to breast
- Chestnut nape and upper mantle
- Olive-brown upperparts
- Variable amount of narrow white barring on upperwing-coverts, sometimes absent
Sexes similar.
Juveniles are sooty black with a whitish throat and centre of breast
Similar species
Paint-billed Crake has red base to bill and red legs, Ash-throated Crake and Sora have patterned upperparts and different head pattern, former has purplish brown legs, latter has white undertail-coverts. All three species are larger and lack chestnut on nape and mantle.
Distribution
Guatemala and Belize to northern Bolivia, Amazonian and eastern Brazil.
Fragmented distribution. Common in Bolivia and Amazonian Brazil, rarer in other parts of its range.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Habitat
Riverbanks, lake edges, marshes and wet grassy habitats with dense vegetation. Also in flooded rice fields.
Occurs alongside Rufous-sided Crake and in habitat similar to that occupied by Ruddy Crake.
From lowlands up to c. 1700 m.
Behaviour
A secretive species, very difficult to see.
Diet
Feeds on earthworms, spiders, insects and seeds.
Breeding
Breeding recorded in December and February in Suriname, in February in Colombia and possibly in July in Panama.
The nest is spherical and has a side entrance. It's made of woven grass and weed stems. Lays 3 eggs.
Movements
A sedentary species. However, records at night at light houses in Suriname and in Paraguay suggest some movements.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- 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) Gray-breasted Crake. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 8 November 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Gray-breasted_Crake
