Little Wood-Rail Aramides mangle Scientific name definitions

The Little Wood-Rail is one of the most poorly known members of the genus Aramides. It largely prefers coastal swamps, lagoons and mangroves, but has occasionally been recorded inland and even at some altitude in southeast Brazil, while recent evidence conclusively demonstrates that it also inhabits the dry Caatinga of northeast Brazil, at least during the brief wet season there, when it breeds. The species’ vocalizations have only very recently been documented and described. Bizarrely for such a ‘noisy’ genus, the Little Wood-Rail was considered ‘mute’ by some previous commentators. The smallest of the genus Aramides, the Little Wood-Rail is definitively separated from any other wood-rail by its red-based greenish bill, although it also lacks the gray underparts of the Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail (Aramides saracura) or gray neck of the Gray-necked Wood-Rail (Aramides cajanea). Long considered to be a Brazilian endemic, there is a recent record of the Little Wood-Rail in French Guiana, although it remains to be seen if there is a resident population in the latter country, or if the bird was a vagrant.

27–29 cm; 1 female 164g. Sexes alike. Smallest member of genus; differs from all congeners in having greenish bill with red base, and from all except A. calopterus and A. axillaris in underwing-coverts black narrowly barred white or cinnamon, instead of rufous with black bars; lacks grey underparts of A. saracura and A. calopterus, and extensive grey on head and foreneck of A. cajaneus and A. ypecaha; A. axillaris rufous on head, neck and underparts ; A. wolfi darker, especially on underparts, and has yellow patch on forehead. Immature and juvenile not described.

E Brazil from NE Pará to NE Bahia and S along coast to São Paulo.

Mainly coastal swamps and lagoons, including mangrove swamps ; inland records do not seem to be associated specifically to marshes or any other kind of aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats (1 Marcondes, R.S., Del-Rio, G., Rego, M.A. and Silveira, L.F. (2014). Geographic and seasonal distribution of a little-known Brazilian endemic rail (Aramides mangle) inferred from ocurrence records and ecological niche modeling. Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 126(4): 663–672. Close ). Larger sympatric A. cajaneus occurs locally in mangroves, but apparently occurs more widely in swampy forests, woodland, on riverbanks, at pools and on dry ground with grass and bushes; also sympatric A. saracura inhabits forest.

There are inland records in the Caatinga region during the rainy period (Feb–Jun), sometimes involving breeding (2 Redies, H. (2010). Little Wood Rail Aramides mangle in the Caatinga: vocalisations and habitat. Cotinga. 32: 137–141. Close ), but a review of records coupled with ecological niche modeling has shown that rather than regular ‘to-and-fro’ migrations there appear to be a periodical range expansion to include the Caatinga (1 Marcondes, R.S., Del-Rio, G., Rego, M.A. and Silveira, L.F. (2014). Geographic and seasonal distribution of a little-known Brazilian endemic rail (Aramides mangle) inferred from ocurrence records and ecological niche modeling. Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 126(4): 663–672. Close ). A July record in French Guiana may relate to a vagrant (3 Ingels, J., Dechelle, M. and Bøgh, R. (2011). Little Wood Rail Aramides mangle, a Brazilian endemic, found in French Guiana. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club. 131(3): 200–202. Close ).

Very little known. At low tide, in estuary of R Traripe, Bahia, birds seen emerging from mangroves to feed on banks of river. Recorded probing in the mud at low tide, and while holding a crab  .

Until recently undescribed. Penetrating, loud “pik-pik-pik” or “pyok-pyok-pyok...”, also described as a yelp, repeated for some 10-30s. Often antiphonally, the second bird calling at a slightly different pitch. Very similar to Rufous-necked Wood-rail A. axillaris. Also low-frequency pips, audible only at close range (2 Redies, H. (2010). Little Wood Rail Aramides mangle in the Caatinga: vocalisations and habitat. Cotinga. 32: 137–141. Close ).

Very little known. Breeding activity recorded in May–Jul in the Caatinga region (4 Lima, P.C., Lima Neto, T.N.C., Lima, R.C.F.R. and Pita, B.G. (2005). Novos registros da ornitofauna na pátria da Arara-azul-de-Lear (Anodorhynchus leari, Bonaparte, 1856), Bahia, Brasil, destacando-se a presença e reprodução da Saracura-da-praia, Aramides mangle (Spix, 1825). Atualidades Ornitológicas. 125: 11. In Portuguese. Close , 2 Redies, H. (2010). Little Wood Rail Aramides mangle in the Caatinga: vocalisations and habitat. Cotinga. 32: 137–141. Close ) and in Oct–Nov in the coast of Rio de Janeiro state (1 Marcondes, R.S., Del-Rio, G., Rego, M.A. and Silveira, L.F. (2014). Geographic and seasonal distribution of a little-known Brazilian endemic rail (Aramides mangle) inferred from ocurrence records and ecological niche modeling. Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 126(4): 663–672. Close ). Two nests found with 5  and 6  eggs in Oct in Rio de Janeiro. Nest a cup of grasses, sticks and dead leaves.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Status unclear; known from NE Pará, Maranhão, Ceará, Bahia, Pernambuco and Alagoas S to São Paulo; between these limits probably less widespread than indicated on map, as species apparently confined largely to coastal localities in NE & E Brazil, with only a few inland localities known. In view of its potentially restricted distribution, the almost total lack of knowledge about its natural history, and the possibility of threats to its wetland habitats (similar to those facing A. wolfi), species should at least be considered Data Deficient and worthy of urgent investigation.