From Opus

Alternative names: African Water Rail; Cape Rail; Kaffir Rail

Photo by Alan Manson
Cedara Farm, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, July 2007

Rallus caerulescens

[edit] Identification

Upper parts dark brown, foreneck and breast dark grey, remainder of underparts black barred white. Bill long and bright red. Eyes, legs and feet red.

[edit] Distribution

South Africa to Ethiopia.

[edit] Taxonomy

A monotypic species.

[edit] Habitat

Dense wetland vegetation.

[edit] Behaviour

Usually in pairs. Forages in mud, shallow water and floating vegetation for insects, earthworms, small frogs, small fish, crabs and plant matter.

[edit] References

Hockey, P.A.R., W.R.J. Dean and P.G. Ryan (eds.). 2005. Robert's Birds of Southern Africa. 7th ed. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 9780620340533

[edit] External Links