Mangrove Rail

The Mangrove Rail (Rallus longirostris), a member of the Rallidae family, is a bird of considerable charm, with its long, slender, slightly decurved bill, and light orange-red legs. This species, approximately 33 cm in length and weighing between 260 to 310 grams, exhibits a plumage that is consistent across both sexes.

Identification Tips

Adults of the nominate subspecies, R. l. longirostris, are characterized by their dull gray-brown upperparts with darker feather centers, a white loral streak on a pale gray face, and a whitish throat. Their neck and breast are tawny buff with a white center to the belly, and they display distinctive black and white bars on their flanks. Juveniles resemble adults but are darker and duller in appearance.

Habitat

The Mangrove Rail is typically found in coastal mangrove swamps as well as brackish and salt marshes, environments that provide both cover and feeding opportunities.

Distribution

This species has a discontinuous distribution along the Pacific coast of Central America and the Pacific, Caribbean, and Atlantic coasts of South America. It is divided into eight recognized subspecies, each with its own specific range within this overall distribution.

Behaviour

The Mangrove Rail is a sedentary bird, often foraging near cover, primarily at low tide and during the early hours of the morning or in the early evening.

Song & calls

The main vocalization of the Mangrove Rail is a loud clattering "kek-kek-kek…" that accelerates and then slows, typically heard at dawn and dusk. Both sexes also emit a series of loud, rapid "kak" notes as an advertising call, and occasionally a drawn-out low "raaaaa."

Breeding

Breeding seasons vary geographically, but often include May and June. Nests are constructed of sticks and dead leaves near water, either on the ground or in vegetation. Clutch sizes range from three to seven eggs, with both sexes sharing incubation duties over a period of 18 to 29 days.

Diet and Feeding

The Mangrove Rail has a diverse diet, feeding on crustaceans, molluscs, leeches, insects, fish, amphibians, and also plant matter such as seeds, berries, and tubers. It is believed to hunt primarily by sight, probing the sand and mud, flipping leaf litter, catching small fish in shallow water, and scavenging.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Mangrove Rail as Least Concern. Although it has a very large range, the population size is unknown and believed to be decreasing. No immediate threats have been identified, but the degradation and loss of mangroves and other wetland habitats pose a longer-term threat to the species.