Photo: Hector Bottai / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Blackish Rail
Pardirallus nigricans
Blackish Rail (Pardirallus nigricans) — Cranes & Rails of South America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Blackish Rail (Pardirallus nigricans) is a member of the Rallidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 217 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Gruiformes
- Family Rallidae Rails, Crakes & Coots
- Genus Pardirallus
- Species nigricans
Quick facts
- Weight
- 217 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Rallidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Blackish Rail hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Blackish Rail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Blackish Rail (Pardirallus nigricans) is a member of the Rallidae family, within the order Gruiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA w Amazonia, e, se.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 217 g, with a wing length of about 12.9 cm and a tail of around 5.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Blackish Rail?
The Blackish Rail is a large bird that weighs around 217 g.
Where does the Blackish Rail live?
The Blackish Rail is found across South America with a range covering SA w Amazonia, e, se, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Blackish Rail belong to?
The Blackish Rail (Pardirallus nigricans) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the Blackish Rail eat?
The Blackish Rail hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Blackish Rail migrate?
The Blackish Rail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Blackish Rail endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Blackish Rail make?
1 real field recording of the Blackish Rail — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Blackish Rail's range?
The Blackish Rail has a mapped global range of about 3.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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