Photo: KrisMaes / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rouget’s Rail
Rougetius rougetii
Rouget's Rail (Rougetius rougetii) — Cranes & Rails of Africa.
The Rouget’s Rail (Rougetius rougetii) is a member of the Rallidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 193 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Gruiformes
- Family Rallidae Rails, Crakes & Coots
- Genus Rougetius
- Species rougetii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 193 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Rallidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rouget’s Rail is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Rouget’s Rail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rouget’s Rail (Rougetius rougetii) belongs to the Rallidae family of the order Gruiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF montane Eritrea and Ethiopia.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 193 g, with a wing length of about 12.8 cm and a tail of around 4.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 345,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rouget’s Rail?
The Rouget’s Rail is a large bird that weighs around 193 g.
Where does the Rouget’s Rail live?
The Rouget’s Rail is found across Africa with a range covering AF montane Eritrea and Ethiopia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Rouget’s Rail belong to?
The Rouget’s Rail (Rougetius rougetii) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the Rouget’s Rail eat?
The Rouget’s Rail is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Rouget’s Rail migrate?
The Rouget’s Rail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rouget’s Rail endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Rouget’s Rail make?
1 real field recording of the Rouget’s Rail — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rouget’s Rail's range?
The Rouget’s Rail has a mapped global range of about 345,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Rallidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Cranes & Rails
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered