The slaty-legged crake (Rallina eurizonoides) belongs to the family Rallidae. Also known as banded crake, it is a water bird, inhabiting wetlands and marshes. The slaty-legged crake species are distributed in the Indian subcontinent, Indochina region and east and southeast Asia.
Taxonomy of Slaty-legged crake
- Scientific Name: Rallina eurizonoides
- Common Name: Slaty-legged crake
- French: Râle de forêt; German: Hinduralle; Spanish: Polluela de jungla;
- Other names: banded crake; Rallina euryzonoides; Rallina minahasa;
- Family: Rallidae › Gruiformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
- Species author: Lafresnaye, 1845
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| Indian birds - Slaty-legged crake - Rallina eurizonoides |
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| Indian birds - Banded crake - Rallina eurizonoides |
Description
The slaty-legged crake are small birds measuring 20 to 25 cm in length and weighing 100 to 130 grams. Both male and female look alike. The wingspan is about 50 cm. Their body is flattened laterally, facilitating their movement through dense undergrowth. The back is black or dark grey. The throat is white. The head and breast are chestnut colored. The flanks, belly and under-tail have prominent white and black bands. The tail is short and the legs and toes are long. The legs are greenish-grey in color. The bill is greenish grey. The irises in both male and female of Rallina species are red. The slaty-legged crake species are partially nocturnal. Their call is a repeated “kek-kek” sound.Habitat
The Rallina crake species inhabits marshes and wetlands with dense vegetation, forests with waterways and dense scrub jungles with water sources. They are quite secretive and when disturbed hide in scrubs and bushes.Feeding habits
The slaty-footed crake feeds on marsh vegetation, seeds, shoots, berries, mollusks, worms, insect larvae and a variety of insects including ants, grasshoppers and beetles.Breeding
The slaty-legged crake species breed during southwest monsoon (June to September) in India. The slaty-legged crake species are highly territorial. These Rallina species built nest on dry ground and the cluster may have up to eight eggs.Distribution
The slaty-legged crake subspecies Rallina eurizonoides amauroptera is distributed in Himalayan foothills and migrates southwards for wintering. The subspecies Rallina eurizonoides telmatophila is distributed in Indochina region and Indonesia. The subspecies Rallina eurizonoides sepiaria is found in Ryukyu Island (Japan). The crake subspecies Rallina eurizonoides formosana is found in Taiwan. The subspecies Rallina e. alvarezi and Rallina e. eurizonoides are distributed in Philippines. The subspecies Rallina e. minahasa is distributed in Sulawesi and Sula Islands in Indonesia.Movement Patterns
The slaty-legged crake is mostly resident in its range and in some regions may migrate southwards during winter.Status and conservation
The slaty-legged crake global population size has not been quantified and there is decline in the population. Habitat destruction and conversion of wetlands for agricultural expansion are the main threats to the survival of these crake species.The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated these slaty-legged crake species and has listed them as of "Least Concern".
| Biological classification of Rallina eurizonoides | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Gruiformes |
| Family: | Rallidae |
| Subfamily: | - |
| Genus: | Rallina |
| Species: | R. eurizonoides |
| Binomial name: | Rallina eurizonoides |
| Distribution: | Indian subcontinent, Indo-China region and southeast Asia; |
| Feeding habits: | feeds on seeds, grass, seeds, invertebrates, insects and worms; |
| IUCN status listing: |  Least Concern |
1.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Slaty-legged_Crake_(_Rallina_eurizonoides).jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47916140@N00/496143746/
Image author: TJ Parpan | License: CC BY 2.0
2.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Slaty_legged_crake.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/79492850@N00/11147445506
Image author: Jason Thompson | License: CC BY 2.0
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