Paint-billed Crake
NamePaint-billed Crake
Common NamePaint-billed Crake
Scientific NameNeocrex erythrops
FamilyRallidae
Wingspan (cm)32.5
Length (cm)19
Weight (g)47.5
Plumage DetailsThe head, neck, and underparts are dark grey, contrasting with an olive-brown back and wings. The undertail coverts are white. Its most distinctive feature is the bill, which is bright red at the base and yellow-green at the tip. The eyes are bright red, and the legs and feet are also bright red.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include a series of sharp, clicking or rattling notes, often accelerating into a trill. It can also produce a 'kek-kek-kek' or 'churr-churr-churr' sound.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatswetland, grassland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in a discontinuous range across Central and South America, including parts of Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. Some populations are migratory.
Identifying FeaturesBicolored red and yellow-green bill, Bright red eyes, Bright red legs and feet, Dark grey head and underparts, Olive-brown back and wings
Description
The Paint-billed Crake is a small, secretive rail characterized by its striking bicolored bill, bright red eyes, and vibrant red legs. It typically inhabits dense vegetation in wetlands and wet grasslands, where it forages for insects and seeds.
