From Opus

Male
Photo by rdavis
Perinet, Madagascar, November 2011

Sarothrura insularis

[edit] Identification

14cm.

[edit] Male

• Rich chestnut head, neck, breast and tail
• Rest of body black with yellowish streaks on upperparts, white streaks on underparts

[edit] Female

• Dark upperparts buff to chestnut streaked and barred
• Ochraceous underparts with black spots on breast and bars on rest of underside
• Chestnut tail with black bars

Immatures are similar to females but duller and more spotting on underparts.

[edit] Similar species

The rare Slender-billed Flufftail is almost unstreaked and has ashy-brown underparts. The female is also plain.

[edit] Distribution

Endemic to Madagascar, mainly found in the west.
Widespread and common in most of its range.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.
Forms a superspecies with Striped Flufftail.

[edit] Habitat

Wide variety of habitats: secondary bush grassland at edges and in clearings of forest, dense cultivation, marshes with long grass, sometimes in rice paddies.
Occurs from sea-level up to 2300m.

[edit] Behaviour

Feeds on insects and seeds.
Breeding poorly known. Probably monogamous and territorial. Breeding season in October, probably also September. The nest is a ball of grass blades, placed on the ground in dense grass. Lays 3-4 eggs.
No movements recorded.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 1996. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 3: Hoatzin to Auks. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334207

• List of references

[edit] External Links