How do you identify a Chestnut-headed Crake?

The chestnut-headed crake is 19 to 21.5 cm (7.5 to 8.5 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.

How big is a Chestnut-headed Crake?

The Chestnut-headed Crake is a medium sized bird weighing about 126 g.

Where can you see a Chestnut-headed Crake?

The Chestnut-headed Crake occurs in 5 countries, including Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Colombia and Bolivia.

What birds look similar to a Chestnut-headed Crake?

The Chestnut-headed Crake is most easily confused with the Red-legged Crake, the Horned Coot and the White-throated Rail.

Is the Chestnut-headed Crake endangered?

The Chestnut-headed Crake is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Chestnut-headed Crake

Anurolimnas castaneiceps

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots · Gruiformes · Rare

The Chestnut-headed Crake (Anurolimnas castaneiceps) is a rare rails, gallinules, and coot found in 5 countries, weighing about 126 g. The chestnut-headed crake is a species of bird in subfamily Rallinae of family Rallidae, the rails, gallinules, and coots.

Least ConcernRareEats invertebrates126 g

Chestnut-headed Crake (Anurolimnas castaneiceps), photo 1 — Photo: Emma Oxford · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Chestnut-headed Crake (Anurolimnas castaneiceps), photo 2 — Photo: Emma Oxford · CC BY 4.0

Chestnut-headed Crake (Anurolimnas castaneiceps), photo 3 — Photo: (c) Emma Oxford, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

About the Chestnut-headed Crake

The chestnut-headed crake is a species of bird in subfamily Rallinae of family Rallidae, the rails, gallinules, and coots. It is the only species placed in the genus Anurolimnas. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

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

How to identify it

The chestnut-headed crake is 19 to 21.5 cm (7.5 to 8.5 in) long. One female weighed 126 g (4.4 oz). The sexes are alike. Adults' bills have a mostly black maxilla that is greenish below the nostrils and a greenish mandible with a black tip. The nominate subspecies' forecrown, sides of the head and neck, and breast are bright rufous. Their throat is orange-rufous or light buff. Their crown, back, rump, wing coverts, belly, and vent area are brownish olive. Their legs and feet are dull brown or olivaceous. Voice: The chestnut-headed crake has a loud melodic song described by one author as "a long (lasting up to 5 min) series of tri- or bisyllabic whistles: wee-hoohoo wee-hoohoo wee-hoohoo ...". Its aggressive call is "a quiet puttering sound".

Where it lives

Ecuador Peru Brazil Colombia Bolivia

When to see it

The Chestnut-headed Crake can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Chestnut-headed Crake?: The chestnut-headed crake is 19 to 21.5 cm (7.5 to 8.5 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Chestnut-headed Crake?: The Chestnut-headed Crake is a medium sized bird weighing about 126 g.
Where can you see a Chestnut-headed Crake?: The Chestnut-headed Crake occurs in 5 countries, including Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Colombia and Bolivia.
What birds look similar to a Chestnut-headed Crake?: The Chestnut-headed Crake is most easily confused with the Red-legged Crake, the Horned Coot and the White-throated Rail.
Is the Chestnut-headed Crake endangered?: The Chestnut-headed Crake is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Chestnut-headed Crake for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

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