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| + | [[Image:Black_Rail.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Photo by '''Peter Bono'''<br>Elliott Island Marsh, [[Maryland]], [[USA]]]] | ||
;[[:Category:Laterallus|Laterallus]] jamaicensis | ;[[:Category:Laterallus|Laterallus]] jamaicensis | ||
| − | |||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| + | 10cm. Black head and breast, rusty nape, dark back and wing coverts with small white spots, dark flanks barred black and white, short dark bill. Sexes similar. | ||
| + | |||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
Poorly known, perhaps more numerous than they seem. Currently thought to be very local from [[U.S.]] to central [[Argentina]] and [[Chile]]. | Poorly known, perhaps more numerous than they seem. Currently thought to be very local from [[U.S.]] to central [[Argentina]] and [[Chile]]. | ||
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====Subspecies==== | ====Subspecies==== | ||
Ranges are disjunct. | Ranges are disjunct. | ||
| − | *''L. j. coturniculus'' - Coastal central California south to n Baja California | + | *''L. j. coturniculus'' - Coastal central [[California]] south to n Baja California |
| − | *''L. j. jamaicensis'' - E US to Belize and Cuba; winters to C America and W Indies | + | *''L. j. jamaicensis'' - E US to [[Belize]] and [[Cuba]]; winters to C America and W Indies |
| − | *''L. j. murivagans'' - Arid littoral of Peru | + | *''L. j. murivagans'' - Arid littoral of [[Peru]] |
*''L. j. salinasi'' - Central Chile (Atacama to Malleco) and extreme w Argentina | *''L. j. salinasi'' - Central Chile (Atacama to Malleco) and extreme w Argentina | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| + | Coastal salt marshes and some freshwater marshes. | ||
| + | |||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | The diet includes small invertebrates and seeds of some marsh plants. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Nests are hidden in clumps of vegetation on marshes and grassland, slightly elevated from the ground. Both sexes appear to incubate the eggs. | ||
| + | |||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Laterallus+jamaicensis}} | {{GSearch|Laterallus+jamaicensis}} | ||
| − | [[Category:Birds | + | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Laterallus]] |
Revision as of 15:08, 31 October 2008
- Laterallus jamaicensis
Identification
10cm. Black head and breast, rusty nape, dark back and wing coverts with small white spots, dark flanks barred black and white, short dark bill. Sexes similar.
Distribution
Poorly known, perhaps more numerous than they seem. Currently thought to be very local from U.S. to central Argentina and Chile.
Taxonomy
The Junin Rail is sometimes lumped within L. jamaicensis.
Subspecies
Ranges are disjunct.
- L. j. coturniculus - Coastal central California south to n Baja California
- L. j. jamaicensis - E US to Belize and Cuba; winters to C America and W Indies
- L. j. murivagans - Arid littoral of Peru
- L. j. salinasi - Central Chile (Atacama to Malleco) and extreme w Argentina
Habitat
Coastal salt marshes and some freshwater marshes.
Behaviour
The diet includes small invertebrates and seeds of some marsh plants.
Nests are hidden in clumps of vegetation on marshes and grassland, slightly elevated from the ground. Both sexes appear to incubate the eggs.
