Spot-flanked Gallinule Porphyriops melanops Scientific name definitions

The Spot-flanked Gallinule is a tiny, distinctive gallinule, with four disjunct populations in South America: it occurs around the pantanal, ibera, and entre rios wetlands northeast Argentina and nearby Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil; extreme eastern Brazil, central Chile, and central Colombia.  This species frequents lagoons  and marshes. Its small size and cryptic coloration make it especially difficult to see when it is hiding in the reeds, though it will venture into open water regularly.  The Spot-flanked Gallinule has a slate-colored head, neck, and underparts, with white spots on the flanks, and a warm brownish-red back and wings.

22–30 cm; unsexed 154–225 g. Distinctive gallinule, in shape resembling more a large Porzana crake than Gallinula; black face , grey and olive body, flanks heavily spotted white, prominent white undertail-coverts; iris red, bill stout and lime green, frontal shield green to pale bluish green, legs and feet greenish. Unique in genus in having lobed toes. On water appears flat-backed with scarcely raised rear end. Sexes alike. Shield may become duller in non-breeding season. Immature not described. Juvenile uniform olive brown  , paler below and with rather faint flank spots. Races separated on colour of axillaries, white in bogotensis, barred in others; and size, crassirostris smaller than nominate, with thicker bill (variable).

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Ponds, ditches, marshes, lagoons, and lake margins with often extensive floating-leaved vegetation; also wet savannas, and said to frequent dense reeds and rushes along rivers. Occurs in temperate zones; inhabits lowlands of Argentina up to 750 m; in E Andes of Colombia, occurs at 2000–3000 m.

Food not described. Feeds mostly by swimming , picking food from floating vegetation or sometimes from water; seldom walks on marsh vegetation or on land. Normally conspicuous and easily seen.

Common call is hollow cackling, resembling sudden burst of hysterical laughter  , the notes beginning loud and long and becoming brief and hurried as they die away. Calls mainly in evening.

Colombia, Feb and Jun, but also breeds in other seasons; Chile, Oct–Nov (spring); SE Brazil, season prolonged, feathered young seen with adults from mid-Oct to Mar; Argentina, Oct–Jan. Nest built among reeds or on damp ground, slightly above water rather than floating; built of dry rushes, which are also used to form half-dome. Eggs 4–8; downy young described as blackish brown  . No other information.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Locally common in SE Brazil, widespread in SW Brazil, Paraguay, E Bolivia and lowlands of N & C Argentina, and thought to be spreading southwards. Race bogotensis has small range in Colombia, but is apparently locally common, e.g. at Parque La Florida, near Bogotá.