Photo: Enéas V. Gouvêa Junior / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous-sided Crake
Laterallus melanophaius
Rufous-sided Crake (Laterallus melanophaius) — 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 Rufous-sided Crake (Laterallus melanophaius) is a member of the Rallidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 52.1 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 Laterallus
- Species melanophaius
Quick facts
- Weight
- 52.1 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Rallidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous-sided Crake hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Rufous-sided Crake is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous-sided Crake (Laterallus melanophaius) is a member of the Rallidae family, within the order Gruiformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA widespread.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 52.1 g, with a wing length of about 8.3 cm and a tail of around 3.8 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 10.2 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous-sided Crake?
The Rufous-sided Crake is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 52.1 g.
Where does the Rufous-sided Crake live?
The Rufous-sided Crake is found across South America with a range covering SA widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Rufous-sided Crake belong to?
The Rufous-sided Crake (Laterallus melanophaius) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the Rufous-sided Crake eat?
The Rufous-sided Crake hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Rufous-sided Crake migrate?
The Rufous-sided Crake is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous-sided Crake 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 Rufous-sided Crake make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous-sided Crake — 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 Rufous-sided Crake's range?
The Rufous-sided Crake has a mapped global range of about 10.2 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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