Pardirallus nigricans
A medium-sized, strikingly dark rail, the Blackish Rail (*Pardirallus nigricans*) measures approximately 27-31 cm (10.6-12.2 inches) in length and weighs between 120-200 grams. Its plumage is uniformly dark slate-gray to blackish, a stark contrast to its most distinctive field marks: a vibrant red bill base transitioning to a yellowish-green tip, and bright coral-red legs and feet. White undertail coverts, often flicked into view, provide another crucial identification cue for this otherwise ...
Found in dense freshwater marshes, swamps, and reedy lake edges with emergent vegetation, predominantly in lowlands but occasionally up to 2000 meters elevation.
Primarily consumes invertebrates such as insect larvae, beetles, dragonflies, small crustaceans, and snails. Also occasionally takes small fish, tadpoles, and seeds.
The Blackish Rail is an exceptionally secretive species, primarily active at dawn and dusk (crepuscular), though it can be active during the day within the dense cover of its marsh habitat. It forages by probing the soft mud and shallow water with its bill, searching for invertebrates, and occasi...
The Blackish Rail is a widespread Neotropical resident, inhabiting a broad geographical area stretching from eastern Panama (Darién Province) southwards through Colombia, Venezuela, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and northern and eastern Bolivia. Its range extends further south across much of Bra...
Least Concern
- In Brazil, it's often known as "Saracura-do-brejo," which translates to "marsh saracura. - Its vibrant red bill base and legs are often the only splash of color seen against its dark, camouflaged plumage. - A master of stealth, it typically walks or runs through dense reeds instead of flying, m...