Spotted Rail (Pardirallus maculatus)

Identification & Behavior: ~26.3 cm (10.4 in). The Spotted Rail is black with white spots in the head, neck, upper back, and upper breast. The rest of the underparts are black with white bands. The back is mottled brown and white. The legs are red and have a long decurved yellowish bill with red on the base of the lower mandible. It has an unmistakable plumage.

Status: The Spotted Rail is uncommon in wetlands in northwest Peru. It occurs in part of the Marañon drainage also in vegetation. It seems to use the rice paddies while there is water and retreat to adjacent wetlands and ditches when rice is about ready for harvest and there is no longer water. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, Bo, and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Rascón Moteado.

Sub-species: Spotted Rail (Pardirallus maculatus maculatus) Boddaert, 1783.

Meaning of Name: Pardirallus: Gr. pardos= leopard; and rallus= in reference to the genus Rallus. maculatus: L. maculatus, macula= tinted, stained, stain.

See more of the Family Rallidae