From Opus

Aramus guarauna

Photo by Paulyoly

[edit] Identification

66 cm. Brown, gray head and neck, long legs and neck, and a long, yellowish bill. Back and upperwing coverts have bold white spots and streaks. Immature similar to adult, but paler. White-streaked underwing coverts visible in flight. Sexes similar.

[edit] Distribution

Southeast U.S., Central America to northern Argentina, Brazil, West Indies

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies

• A. g. pictus - Florida, Cuba and Jamaica
• A. g. elucus - Hispaniola and Puerto Rico
• A. g. dolosus - SE Mexico to Panama
• A. g. guarauna - S America (except for arid w coast, Andes and extreme south)

[edit] Habitat

Open freshwater swamps and marshes.

[edit] Behaviour

Diet includes small aquatic life, principally snails.

It nests on the ground laying about 4-8 olive-buff, brown blotched eggs. The nest is a platform of reeds and grass, lined with finer plant material. Incubation is by both sexes.

[edit] External Links