Blackish Rail
Pardirallus nigricans
The blackish rail is 27 to 29 cm (11 to 11 in) long; one male weighed 217 g (7.7 oz). The sexes are alike. They have a long yellow-green bill and pinkish legs. The nominate subspecies has unmarked dark brown upperparts, a white chin and throat, and dark gray face and underparts. P. n. caucae is larger than the nominate and has a larger and whiter throat patch and paler underparts especially at the vent. Voice: The blackish rail has a large vocal repertoire. What is thought to be a male song is a "very sharp, loud, penetrating, repeated 'whuueeee' or 'wheee'." Other vocalizations have been described as a "very fast, metallic 'tii'd'dit'", a "complaining 'keeeeaaa'", a "rapid, repeated 'chchchee'" and a "sharp double squeak".
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Plumbeous Rail
Pardirallus sanguinolentus
The blackish rail is 30 to 38 cm (12 to 15 in) long and weighs 170 to 230 g (6.0 to 8.1 oz). The sexes are alike. They have red eyes and legs. They have a green bill and in all but subspecies P. s. luridus the maxilla has a sky blue base and the mandible a bright red one. The nominate subspecies P. s. sanguinolentus has mottled brown upperparts and plain gray face and underparts. The other subspecies differ somewhat in size and plumage. P. s. luridus is the largest and P. s. zelebori the smallest. P. s. simonsi is more olive brown above and paler gray below than the nominate. P. s. Voice: Male plumbeous rails sing "a series of high, penetrating, rolling squeals" in a duet with the female's "low, deep 'hoo' notes". They sing at any time of day. Their calls are "repeated 'giyp' or 'wit' notes".
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Where you might meet both
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Play today's Daily BirdPhotos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Blackish Rail and Plumbeous Rail.