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CoastalPlatform nestMedium · 259 g
What the Mangrove Rail sounds like
ID tip
The mangrove rail is about 33 cm (13 in) long and weighs 260 to 310 g (9.2 to 11 oz). It has a long, slender, and slightly decurved bill with a brownish maxilla and an orange-yellow mandible. Its legs are light orange-red. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies R. l. longirostris have dull gray-brown upperparts with darker centers to the feathers. They have a white loral streak on their pale gray face, a whitish throat, tawny buff neck and breast with a white center to the belly, and black and white bars on the flanks. Voice: The mangrove rail's main vocalization is a "oud clattering 'kek-kek-kek…'" that accelerates and then slows; it makes this call mostly at dawn and dusk. Both sexes make "a series of loud, rapid 'kak' notes" as an "advertising call". Another call is a "drawn-out low 'raaaaa'."
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Mangrove Rail
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is December, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Mangrove Rail
The map shades 13 countries with regular records, and 5 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Colombia, United States, Martinique, St. Barthélemy, St. Martin.
About the Mangrove Rail
The mangrove rail is a species of bird in subfamily Rallinae of family Rallidae, the rails, gallinules, and coots. It is found in Central and South America.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Bogota RailRallus semiplumbeusThe Bogotá rail is a typical member of the genus Rallus, with a long and slightly decurved bill, a plump body, and a short tail.
Brown-cheeked RailRallus indicusThe species differs from the slightly smaller nominate form through its paler upperparts, brown-tinged underparts and a brown stripe through the eye.
Ecuadorian RailRallus aequatorialisThe Ecuadorian rail is 20 to 21 cm (7.9 to 8.3 in) long and weighs about 85 g (3.0 oz).
Side by side: African Rail vs Mangrove Rail · Brown-cheeked Rail vs Mangrove Rail · Bogota Rail vs Mangrove Rail
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