Madagascar Forest Rail (Mentocrex kioloides) | Photos and ID

LCLeast ConcernEndemicOmnivore

ForestCup nestMedium · 246 g

Madagascar Forest Rail (Mentocrex kioloides), photo 1 — Photo: Samuel GUIRAUDOU · CC BY 4.0

Madagascar Forest Rail (Mentocrex kioloides), photo 2 — Photo: Samuel GUIRAUDOU · CC BY 4.0

Madagascar Forest Rail (Mentocrex kioloides), photo 3 — Photo: Justin Philbois · CC0

Madagascar Forest Rail (Mentocrex kioloides), photo 4 — Photo: Justin Philbois · CC0

Madagascar Forest Rail (Mentocrex kioloides), photo 5 — Photo: Scott Loarie · CC0

Madagascar Forest Rail (Mentocrex kioloides), photo 8 — Photo: (c) Nigel Voaden, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

Madagascar Forest Rail (Mentocrex kioloides), photo 9 — Photo: no rights reserved · CC0

Madagascar Forest Rail (Mentocrex kioloides), photo 10 — Photo: (c) Samuel GUIRAUDOU, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

ID tip

The Madagascar forest rail is a medium-sized rail measuring about 28 cm in length and weighing 250-280 g. The sexes are alike in their feathers. Adults are distinguished from the sympatric White-throated rail by their smaller size, shorter bill, darker undertail-coverts and the coloration of the head and upperparts. Fully grown, these birds reach a reddish-brown color while immature birds are born with less color than adults, with less grey on the head and yellow spotting on the undertail-coverts. The subspecies M.k berliozi is slightly larger and paler than the nominate form.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Madagascar Forest Rail

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 5 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Madagascar Forest Rail

Regular range

The map shades 1 country with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Madagascar

About the Madagascar Forest Rail

The Madagascar forest rail, also known as the Madagascar wood rail or the kioloides rail, is a species of bird in the family Sarothruridae. It is endemic to forests, often in wet areas, in northern and eastern Madagascar. The secretive and shy personality of this reddish brown bird has contributed to a lack of study on this species; a reason why it is not that well known. Their smaller size and coloration make them great foragers on the forest floor. As of recent despite habitat loss the endangerment level of the Madagascar forest rail is 'of least concern.

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

Easily confused with

Tsingy Forest RailMentocrex beankaensisThe Tsingy forest rail, also known as the Tsingy wood rail, is a species of bird in the family Sarothruridae that was scientifically described in 2011.

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