From Opus

Porzana fusca

Photo by Romy Ocon
Location: Masinloc, Zambales, Philippines

[edit] Identification

22-23 cm. Pale brown back, chestnut head and underparts, with white barring on the flanks and undertail. The bill is yellowish, and the eyes, legs, and feet are red. Long toes and short tail.

The sexes are similar, but juveniles are dark brown with some white spotting.

[edit] Distribution

From India and Sri Lanka to the Philippines and from Japan to Indochina

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies¹

• P. f. fusca - Pakistan and India to Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines
• P. f. zeylonica - W peninsular India and Sri Lanka
• P. f. erythrothorax - Japan, e China, Manchuria, Indochina and Taiwan
• P. f. phaeopyga - Ryukyu Islands

[edit] Habitat

Swamps and similar wet areas.

[edit] Behaviour

It builds its nests in a dry location on the ground in marsh vegetation, laying 6-9 eggs.

The diet includes shoots, berries and insects, as well as large snails, which they eat by using their bills to peck through the hard shell.

[edit] References

1. Clements James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2008. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019

[edit] External Links