Family Rails, Gallinules, Coots (Rallidae)
Endangered
Sakalava Rail (Zapornia olivieri)
Taxonomy
French: Marouette d’Olivier German: Malegassenkielralle Spanish: Polluela negra malgache
Taxonomy:
Porzana Olivieri
G. Grandidier and Berlioz
, 1929,Antsalova, Province of Maintirano, west Madagascar
.Distribution:
WC Madagascar.
Descriptive notes
19 cm. Distinctive: dark slate grey plumage with rich dark brown from mantle to rump and on upperwing-coverts; greenish yellow bill, pinkish red legs and eyelids, and red eye... read more
Voice
Usual calls tic-tic or tic-tic-tic huaww, accompanied with upward flicking... read more
Habitat
Lotic marshes with a mixture of open water, patches of floating vegetation for foraging,... read more
Food and feeding
Food unknown. Forages walking slowly on floating vegetation, mainly Salvinia hastata, keeping among Phragmites stems and... read more
Breeding
Nests with eggs recorded in Mar, Oct and Nov, and chicks in Mar, Jul and Nov. Nests placed near water, in marshy areas; one was 50 cm... read more
Movements
None described.
Status and conservation
ENDANGERED. Previously considered Critically Endangered. After description in 1929, specimens were taken in 1930 and 1962, in Ambararatabe near Soalala, and Nosy-... read more
Sometimes placed in Porzana or in Amaurornis. Thought to be closely related to Z. flavirostra. Monotypic.