Little wood rail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Little wood rail |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Aramides
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| Species: |
mangle
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The little wood rail (Aramides mangle) is a type of bird that belongs to the rail, crake, and coot family, called Rallidae. This special bird lives only in Brazil.
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About the Little Wood Rail
The little wood rail is a small bird, usually about 27 to 29 centimeters (11 to 11.5 inches) long. One female bird was found to weigh about 164 grams (5.8 ounces). This makes it the smallest bird in its group, the Aramides genus.
Both male and female little wood rails look very similar. They have a strong, greenish beak with a red spot at the base of the top part. Their legs and feet are also red.
What Does It Look Like?
Adult little wood rails have a gray head, neck, and upper back. The rest of their back and their wings are an olive-brown or greenish-olive color. Their rump, tail, and the feathers under their tail are black. Their throat is white, and their chest and belly are a reddish-brown color.
Where Do Little Wood Rails Live?
The little wood rail lives in Brazil. You can find it from the northeastern part of Pará state, south along the coast to São Paulo state. It also lives a bit inland in the northeast of Brazil.
This bird mostly lives in wet, coastal areas like swamps and lagoons. This includes mangrove forests, which are special forests that grow in salty water. Inland, it can be found in a drier area called caatinga. Sometimes, a little wood rail might even fly to French Guiana, but this is rare.
How Do They Move Around?
Little wood rails that live along the coast usually stay in the same area all year. However, the birds living in the inland caatinga sometimes move. These movements seem to be about expanding or shrinking their living area, not a true migration where they travel long distances every year.
What Do Little Wood Rails Eat?
Scientists don't know much about what the little wood rail eats or how it finds its food. They have seen it poking its beak into mud, likely looking for food. One time, a little wood rail was even seen holding a crab!
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Little wood rails have been seen breeding at different times of the year. In the caatinga area, they breed between May and July. Along the southern coast, they breed between October and November.
The few nests that have been found were shaped like cups. They were made from sticks, grass, and dead leaves. Each nest usually held five or six eggs. Beyond this, not much else is known about how these birds raise their young.
What Do They Sound Like?
The little wood rail has a loud and clear call that sounds like its song. It makes a "pik-pik-pik" or "pyok-pyok-pyok..." sound. When a pair of these birds calls to each other, they often use slightly different pitches, like they are having a conversation!
Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the little wood rail as a species of "Least Concern." This means they are not currently in danger of disappearing. However, scientists don't know how many of these birds there are or if their numbers are changing.
There are no immediate threats that have been found for this bird. But because it lives in a specific area and we don't know much about its life, experts believe it needs more study. This way, we can make sure its wetland homes are protected in the future.
