Paint-billed Crake (Neocrex erythrops)

Identification & Behavior: ~18 cm (7 in). The Paint-billed Crake has olive-gray upperparts, including the backside of the neck and head. The sides of the head and underparts are gray.  It has red legs and green bill with distinctive bright red on the base of the bill. It is similar to Ash-throated Crake and Gray-breasted Crake but is distinguished by having an overall darker coloration, the bright red base of the bill, and red legs.

Status: The Paint-billed Crake occurs in the coastal lowlands and the eastern lowlands of Amazonia. It is rather secretive and does not seem to vocalize much. Scattered sightings throughout the Amazonian lowlands suggest the species may be more widespread and may be overlooked. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Gallineta de Pico Rojo.

Sub-species: Paint-billed Crake (Neocrex erythrops olivascens) C. Chubb, 1917. Also N. e. erythrops (P. L. Sclater), 1867.

Meaning of Name: Neocrex: Gr. neos, neo= new, new and krex= long legged bird mentioned in Greek mythology. erythrops: Gr. eruthros= red and öps= eyes, eye.

See more of the Family Rallidae