Bogotá rail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bogotá rail |
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Rallus
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semiplumbeus
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The Bogotá rail (Rallus semiplumbeus) is a special type of bird found only in Colombia. It is part of the rail family, which includes birds like gallinules and coots. This bird has a plump body that looks "skinny as a rail" from the side. It also has a short tail and a long bill. The Bogotá rail is currently listed as a Vulnerable species, meaning its population is at risk.
Contents
About the Bogotá Rail's Name
The Bogotá rail was first described in 1856 by an American bird expert named Philip Sclater. He studied a bird sample sent to him by French collectors.
The name Rallus for these birds might come from French (Rale) or German (ralle) words. The second part of its scientific name, semiplumbeus, comes from the Latin word plumbum, which means lead. This suggests the bird is somewhat the color of lead.
Types of Bogotá Rails
There are two known types, or subspecies, of the Bogotá rail:
- R. s. semiplumbeus (described by Sclater in 1856)
- R. s. peruvianus (described by Taczanowski in 1886)
The R. s. peruvianus subspecies is known from only one bird sample. It was thought to be found in Peru. Sadly, this type is now believed to be extinct. Some experts even think it might have been a completely different species.
Rail Family Connections
Scientists have studied the relationships among different rail species. The Bogotá rail is part of a group of eight birds that are closely related. It is most similar to the plain-flanked rail, mangrove rail, Virginia rail, king rail, and austral rail. These birds all live in the Americas. It is also related to the African rail, water rail, and brown-cheeked rail, which live in parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
What Does the Bogotá Rail Look Like?
The Bogotá rail is a typical rail bird. It has a long, slightly curved bill, a plump body, and a short tail. These birds are about 25 to 30 centimeters (10 to 12 inches) long.
Its bill is a dull red color, turning dark black at the top and tip. Its eyes are red with black centers, and its legs are a dull coral red. Male and female Bogotá rails look very much alike.
Adult birds have a dark brown head and neck. Their face, chest, and belly are a gray color, like lead. Their back, wing feathers, and the top of their tail are dull brown. They have black stripes on their back. Their main flight feathers are black with reddish-brown edges. You can often see a reddish-brown patch on their wing covers.
The back parts of their sides are black with thin white stripes. The feathers under their tail are white. There is also a small white spot on their throat, right below the bill. Young Bogotá rails look similar to adults. However, they have sooty tips on their chest feathers and a whitish throat.
Where Do Bogotá Rails Live?
The Bogotá rail is a rare bird found only in the Cundinamarca and Boyacá regions of Colombia. These regions are in the Eastern Andes mountains.
It lives in wetlands, ponds, and wet meadows on mountain slopes. It also lives in high-altitude grasslands called páramo. These birds can be found at elevations from 2,000 to 4,100 meters (6,600 to 13,500 feet) above sea level.
The species prefers dense reedbeds. These are often filled with a plant called Schoenoplectus californicus. They also live among other plants that grow out of the water. Reedbeds next to small Chusquea bamboo or other thick plants seem to be their favorite spots.
A study in the La Conejera wetland found that Bogotá rails spend most of their time (about 84%) in these dense habitats. They were also seen in wet grasslands. However, they mostly went into these more open areas when moving between patches of wetland. They were rarely seen on floating plants.
Bogotá Rail Behavior
How They Move
Not much is known about how the Bogotá rail moves around. Scientists have not recorded if they migrate or move between different areas.
What They Eat
The Bogotá rail usually looks for food at dawn (sunrise) and dusk (sunset). It searches for prey at the edges of reedbeds and marshes. It also looks in flooded grassy areas, shallow water with floating plants, and among dead plants in the water.
Their diet mainly includes small water animals without backbones, like insect larvae. They also eat worms, snails, amphibians, and some plant material.
How They Breed
The breeding season for the Bogotá rail is not fully clear. It seems to happen from July to September. These birds are thought to be monogamous, meaning they have one partner. They also defend their territory.
Scientists do not know what their nests or eggs look like. However, it is known that both parent birds take care of their young.
Their Calls
The Bogotá rail only calls during the daytime. Their calls include "squeaks, grunts, and whistling notes." These sounds get louder and then stop suddenly. When they are disturbed, they also make a quick, rapid "titititirr" sound.
Bogotá Rail's Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) first listed the Bogotá rail as Threatened. Then, in 1994, it was changed to Endangered. In 2021, its status was updated to Vulnerable. This means the species is still at risk, but perhaps not as critically as before.
The Bogotá rail lives in a very small area. Its estimated population of about 3,700 adult birds is believed to be shrinking. Their wetland homes are under a lot of pressure from human activities. For example, draining land has caused a huge loss of their habitat. Also, pollution and dirt building up in the water have harmed many marshes. Even so, the Bogotá rail is common in some local areas. It seems to be able to survive in small parts of its remaining habitat.
See also
In Spanish: Tingua bogotana para niños
