Austral Rail vs African Rail

Rallus antarcticus compared with Rallus caerulescens

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Austral Rail African Rail
Scientific Name Rallus antarcticus Rallus caerulescens
Order Gruiformes Gruiformes
Family Rallidae Rallidae
Conservation Status Vulnerable Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 18.3 cm (7.2 in) 23.8 cm (9.4 in)
Weight 60.4 g (2.13 oz) 160.25 g (5.65 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 8 2-6
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Austral Rail only

None

African Rail only

Conservation Status

Vulnerable

Austral Rail

Least Concern

African Rail

About These Birds

Austral Rail

Austral Rail (Rallus antarcticus), 19 cm. Brown with dark streaks above; grey breast and barred flanks. Found in dense reed-marsh of southern Chile and adjacent Argentina south to Tierra del Fuego. Omnivore. Endangered; drainage of southern marshes and livestock impacts.

African Rail

African Rail (Rallus caerulescens), 28 cm. Brown above with dark streaks; blue-grey underparts; barred white flanks; red bill and legs. Found in freshwater reedbeds and swamp margins across sub-Saharan Africa. Omnivore. Least Concern; common in wetland habitat.

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