Band-bellied Crake Zapornia paykullii

Skulky and difficult to see, this medium-sized crake is often detected through its unique song, a hollow hoot-knocking that can be likened to a wood rattle or rapidfire tapping on a tiny high-pitched drum. Favors extremely well-vegetated marsh margins, often in areas with bushes and short trees, and sometimes near cultivation. If seen well, note dull gray-brown back, orange face, throat, and chest, and black-and-white striped sides. Ruddy-breasted Crake can be very similar, but note Band-bellied’s grayer back, duller red legs, more extensive white barring on the sides, and white-striped coverts (not always visible).