Uniform Crake Amaurolimnas concolor Scientific name definitions

Despite its comparatively wide, albeit apparently highly disjunct, range, the Uniform Crake is a rather rarely seen bird in most regions. Unlike many crakes, it is often found some distance from water, including in dense second growth abutting dry forest, although it is largely confined to lowland areas below 1000 m and is also habitually found along forested streams and other well-vegetated wet habitats. The bird’s plumage is predominantly dull rufous, becoming marginally darker and duller over the back and wings, with a relatively short, dull yellowish-green bill, and pinkish-red legs and feet. In appearance, it is most like Russet-crowned Crake (Anuorlimnas viridis) and Chestnut-headed Crake (Anurolimnas castaneiceps), although geographically this species only overlaps significantly with the first-named. Furthermore, its loud calls are similar those of some wood-rails, and these are often the sole indication of the species’ presence, like so many Rallidae. There are few breeding data, although the nest is apparently a loose cup-like structure.

20–23 cm; 1 male 133 g, unsexed mean 95 g. Sexes alike. An entirely brown to rufous brown bird  ; superficially resembles a diminutive Aramides species in build, posture and bare parts colours, but has no grey in plumage and lacks the barred underwing-coverts, and the black hindbody and tail, characteristic of Aramides. Differs from rather similar Rufirallus castaneiceps and R. viridis in brown-tinged face, more extensively rufous  underparts, yellowish green bill  , and different voice. Immature similar to adult but more dusky on both upperparts and underparts, with white shaft streaks to feathers of throat and breast, and yellow eyes. Juvenile has brownish eyes and dull legs. Races separated on size, with <em>guatemalensis</em> smallest of the three; colour of upperparts, rufous in concolor, olivaceous in other races; and colour of underparts, most rufous in castaneus  .

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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.

Earthworms, insects, spiders, small frogs and lizards; also seeds and berries. Normally remains in cover; forages deliberately, walking slowly and pecking into leaf litter , detritus and dead leaves hanging from plants; also probes in wet earth to depth of bill and digs with bill in soft mud.

Loud, arresting whistled calls, reminiscent of Aramides. Song is series of 6–20 upslurred “tooee” whistles, loudest during middle of sequence; pair members give clear, but not loud, whistled “tooo” notes to each other; alarm call a sharp, nasal “kek”.

Costa Rica, breeding condition Jul, most song Aug–Dec, one probable nest Nov; Pearl Is (Panama), eggs found (possibly of this species) in Sept. Probably monogamous and territorial. Costa Rica nest was a loose cup of leaves filling hollow in top of vine-covered stump in treefall clearing in swamp forest, c. 5 m from stream and 1 m from dense thicket; contained 4 eggs, which agreed in size and colour with the only egg of this species definitely known.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Formerly considered to be locally distributed; by 1970s guatemalensis was regarded as very rare except in NE Costa Rica, where it was locally fairly common, while castaneus, known from only a few specimens, was also regarded as rare. In 1980s, guatemalensis described as rare in Panama and Colombia, while castaneus described as apparently rather common in coastal Alagoas, Brazil. Because of its secretive habits species is undoubtedly overlooked, and is possibly more widely distributed than currently known, but certainly adversely affected by destruction of its forest habitats. Given present state of knowledge, it should be considered Data Deficient and worthy of investigation, and possibly rare and threatened in some parts of its range. Nominate race was last reported from Jamaica in 1881, its extirpation presumably being due to the introduction of a mongoose species. The only record of race castaneus from French Guiana is a specimen from Cayenne, collected in 1833.