Mustelirallus erythrops
The Paint-billed Crake (*Mustelirallus erythrops*) is a small, enigmatic wetland bird belonging to the Rallidae family, renowned for its secretive nature and striking coloration. Averaging 14-15 cm (5.5-6 inches) in length and weighing 30-50 grams, its most distinctive field mark is its bright red bill, complemented by a rufous throat and face (lores, chin, upper throat) that contrast sharply with its slate-gray head, neck, and breast. The upperparts are dark olive-brown, and its eyes are a v...
Primarily inhabits dense freshwater marshes, wet grasslands, swamps, and flooded agricultural areas, preferring shallow water with emergent vegetation. Typically found at low to moderate elevations, generally below 1,000 meters.
Feeds predominantly on small insects, their larvae, spiders, small crustaceans, and mollusks. It also consumes some plant material, such as seeds, primarily by probing and gleaning from mud and vegetation.
Extremely secretive and largely crepuscular or nocturnal, the Paint-billed Crake is usually active at dawn, dusk, and throughout the night, spending its days hidden deep within dense vegetation. It forages by probing soft mud and gleaning small invertebrates from the surface of water and plants. ...
The Paint-billed Crake has a broad and disjunct distribution across Central and South America. Its primary continental breeding and resident range extends from Costa Rica, south through Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, northern Argentina, and Uruguay. An entirely sep...
Least Concern
- The vibrant red bill of the Paint-billed Crake is not only its namesake but also its most crucial field mark, making it unique among crakes in its range. - Despite its widespread distribution, it is far more often heard than seen, a true ghost of the marsh due to its extremely secretive nature....