Nkulengu Rail Himantornis haematopus

A large brown rail with a paler face and throat, blood-red legs, red eyes, and a brown bill with a paler tip. Could be mistaken for a francolin, but note short tail and secretive behavior. Found in dense lowland forest and mangroves, where it usually, but not always, occurs near water. Named for its distinctive calls, “nku-nku-lengu,” with each call lasting approximately one second. Calls primarily at night, sometimes for several minutes straight.