Gray-cowled Wood-Rail (Aramides cajanea)

Identification & Behavior: ~35.5 cm (14 in). The Gray-cowled Wood-Rail has olive-brown upperparts, rufous and black underparts, and gray head and neck. The legs are red and the bill yellowish and green. It forages along creeks and also in second growth in floodplain and varzea forests. Similar to the rare and local Red-winged Wood-Rail, but distinguished by the gray neck and head.  The Red-winged Wood-Rail favors Terra Firme forest.

Status: The Gray-cowled Wood-Rail is common in the Amazonian lowlands where it is known to range up to 1300 m along the foothill of the Andes. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Rascón-Montés de Capucha Gris o Unchala.

Sub-species: Gray-cowled Wood-Rail (Aramides cajanea cajaneus) Statius Müller, PL, 1776.

Meaning of Name: Aramides: Gr. Aramos= a type of heron mentioned by Hesinquio (Greek mythology), and öides= similar. cajaneus: cajanea= referring to the region of Cayenne in Guyana.

See more of the Family Rallidae