Bird Guide

Bogota Rail

Rallus semiplumbeus

VulnerableEndemicFishWetlandMedium · 161 g

About the Bogota Rail

The Bogotá rail is a Vulnerable species of bird in subfamily Rallinae of family Rallidae, the rails, gallinules, and coots. It is endemic to Colombia. The bird is a typical medium-sized rail with a plump body that is laterally compressed, a short tail and an elongated bill.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The Bogotá rail is a typical member of the genus Rallus, with a long and slightly decurved bill, a plump body, and a short tail. It is 25 to 30 cm (9.8 to 12 in) long. Its bill is dull red, shading to dusky black on the culmen and tip. Its eyes are red with a black pupil, and its legs are dull coral red. The sexes are alike. Adults have a sepia brown crown and nape and plumbeous gray face, breast, and belly. Their back, tertials, secondaries, and the upper side of the tail are dull brown, with black streaks on the back. Voice: The Bogotá rail calls only in daytime. Its vocalizations include "squeaks, grunts, and whistling and piping notes" that increase in volume and fairly abruptly end. When disturbed it also makes a "brief, rapid 'titititirr'."

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

What the Bogota Rail sounds like

Recording: JUAN ANTONIO ALONSO DE JUAN · CC BY 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: aves_SDA_Bogota · CC BY 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Where the Bogota Rail lives

Regular range

When to see the Bogota Rail

Peak activity in February · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

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