Mangrove Rail
Rallus longirostris
The Mangrove Rail (Rallus longirostris) is a rare rails, gallinules, and coot found in 18 countries, weighing about 259 g. The mangrove rail is a species of bird in subfamily Rallinae of family Rallidae, the rails, gallinules, and coots.
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.
How to identify it
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'."
What the Mangrove Rail sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Colombia, United States, Martinique, St. Barthélemy, St. Martin.
When to see it
The Mangrove Rail can be seen all year round, with peak activity in December. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Mangrove Rail?
- The mangrove rail is about 33 cm (13 in) long and weighs 260 to 310 g (9.2 to 11 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Mangrove Rail?
- The Mangrove Rail is a medium sized bird weighing about 259 g.
- Where can you see a Mangrove Rail?
- The Mangrove Rail occurs in 18 countries, including Brazil, Venezuela, Guadeloupe, Costa Rica and Honduras.
- What does a Mangrove Rail sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Mangrove Rail on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Mangrove Rail?
- The Mangrove Rail is most easily confused with the Bogota Rail, the Brown-cheeked Rail and the Ecuadorian Rail.
- Is the Mangrove Rail endangered?
- The Mangrove Rail is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Mangrove Rail 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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