Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Slender-billed Flufftail
Sarothrura watersi
Slender-billed Flufftail (Sarothrura watersi) — Cranes & Rails of Africa.
The Slender-billed Flufftail (Sarothrura watersi) is a member of the Sarothruridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 26.5 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 Sarothruridae Flufftails & Forest Rails
- Genus Sarothrura
- Species watersi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 26.5 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Sarothruridae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Slender-billed Flufftail hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Slender-billed Flufftail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Slender-billed Flufftail (Sarothrura watersi) belongs to the Sarothruridae family of the order Gruiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF montane e Madagascar (patchy, rare).
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 26.5 g, with a wing length of about 7 cm and a tail of around 4.3 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.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 12,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Slender-billed Flufftail?
The Slender-billed Flufftail is a small bird that weighs around 26.5 g.
Where does the Slender-billed Flufftail live?
The Slender-billed Flufftail is found across Africa with a range covering AF montane e Madagascar (patchy, rare), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Slender-billed Flufftail belong to?
The Slender-billed Flufftail (Sarothrura watersi) belongs to the Sarothruridae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the Slender-billed Flufftail eat?
The Slender-billed Flufftail hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Slender-billed Flufftail migrate?
The Slender-billed Flufftail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Slender-billed Flufftail 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 Slender-billed Flufftail make?
1 real field recording of the Slender-billed Flufftail — 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 Slender-billed Flufftail's range?
The Slender-billed Flufftail has a mapped global range of about 12,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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