Ruddy Crake
Laterallus ruber
The Ruddy Crake (Laterallus ruber) is a uncommon rails, gallinules, and coot found in 6 countries, weighing about 44 g. The ruddy crake is a bird in the rail family, Rallidae.
About the Ruddy Crake
The ruddy crake is a bird in the rail family, Rallidae. Other names the ruddy crake is known by are "red rail", "ruddy rail" and "red crake".
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The ruddy crake can be identified by its ruddy plumage that can vary in shade and gray head with dark brown wings and tail. It is mostly bright chestnut in colour with a paler chin and belly, blackish crown and dark grey ear-coverts. Ruddy crakes are about the size of a sparrow. It is a small crake, 14–16.5 cm in length. Immature ruddy crakes tend to show discoloration on their midline or nape, such as a pale midline or chestnut colored nape. The bill is black, the iris is red and the legs and feet are olive-green.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Ruddy 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 Ruddy Crake?
- The ruddy crake can be identified by its ruddy plumage that can vary in shade and gray head with dark brown wings and tail. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Ruddy Crake?
- The Ruddy Crake is a small sized bird weighing about 44 g.
- Where can you see a Ruddy Crake?
- The Ruddy Crake occurs in 6 countries, including Belize, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
- What birds look similar to a Ruddy Crake?
- The Ruddy Crake is most easily confused with the Rufous-sided Crake, the Grey-breasted Crake and the White-throated Crake.
- Is the Ruddy Crake endangered?
- The Ruddy Crake is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Ruddy Crake for real
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