Family Rails, Gallinules, Coots (Rallidae)
Vulnerable
Madagascar Rail (Rallus madagascariensis)
Taxonomy
French: Râle de Madagascar German: Madagaskarralle Spanish: Rascón malgache
Other common names:
Madagascar Water Rail
Taxonomy:
Rallus Madagascariensis
J. P. Verreaux
, 1833,Madagascar
.Distribution:
E Madagascar.
Descriptive notes
25 cm; 1 male 148 g. Sexes alike. Distinguished from other medium-sized Madagascar rails by long, slender, decurved bill, lack of white on throat, unbarred flanks, and olive... read more
Voice
Sharp “tsi-ka” when flushed; also “kik-kik”. Calls frequently during day,... read more
Habitat
Small to large marshes with dense long grass, reeds and sedges; river margins; grassland at forest... read more
Food and feeding
Only invertebrates recorded. Moves about slowly in dense aquatic vegetation, searching for food and probing mud with long bill.
Breeding
Very poorly known. Lays Aug–Oct. Nest not described; built on ground in aquatic vegetation. No data on clutch size or downy young.
Movements
Suggested to be possibly migratory, but no evidence found.
Status and conservation
VULNERABLE. Becoming rare throughout range as result of pressure on natural habitats in E half of Madagascar, to which species is confined and where it was formerly (1929... read more
Closely related to R. aquaticus, R. indicus and R. caerulescens. Monotypic.