African Rail vs Spotless Crake

Rallus caerulescens compared with Zapornia tabuensis

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute African Rail Spotless Crake
Scientific Name Rallus caerulescens Zapornia tabuensis
Order Gruiformes Gruiformes
Family Rallidae Rallidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 23.8 cm (9.4 in) 16.1 cm (6.3 in)
Weight 160.25 g (5.65 oz) 42.25 g (1.49 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 2-6 2-6
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

African Rail only

Spotless Crake only

Conservation Status

Least Concern

African Rail

Least Concern

Spotless Crake

About These Birds

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.

Spotless Crake

Spotless Crake (Zapornia tabuensis) is a small 17–20 cm, dark crake of the Pacific and Australasia. Uniform dark slate-grey with brown back; red eye and reddish bill base; no spotting. Inhabits freshwater and brackish marshes, sedge swamps, and dense reed beds from New Guinea and Australia east through Polynesia. Secretive.

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