Sarothrura ayresi
The White-winged Flufftail (*Sarothrura ayresi*) is an exceptionally rare and enigmatic member of the rail family (Rallidae), often dubbed the "ghost of the marshes" due to its extreme elusiveness. Males are striking, featuring a black head, rich rufous throat and breast, distinct black-and-white barring on the flanks, and most notably, bright white primary feathers visible in flight, which give the species its name. Females are duller, with mottled brown plumage and less pronounced barring. ...
This species inhabits high-altitude (typically 1500-3000m), seasonally flooded, short-grass wetlands, particularly dense sedge marshes and boggy grasslands with standing water.
Their diet primarily consists of small invertebrates, including insects and their larvae, snails, and worms, obtained by probing in soft mud and shallow water.
White-winged Flufftails are exceptionally secretive and primarily crepuscular or nocturnal, making direct observation a rare event. They forage by probing in soft mud or shallow water for invertebrates, moving quietly through dense vegetation. Males are territorial and their distinctive, deep, re...
The White-winged Flufftail exhibits a highly fragmented and localized distribution across sub-Saharan Africa. Known breeding populations are incredibly restricted to specific high-altitude wetlands (1500-3000m) in Ethiopia, particularly in the Sululta and Berga wetlands of the central highlands, ...
Critically Endangered
- The White-winged Flufftail is one of Africa's rarest and most endangered bird species, with a global population estimated to be fewer than 250 mature individuals. - It is often called the 'ghost of the marshes' due to its extremely shy and elusive nature, making it one of the hardest birds to f...