Habitat
Deep thickets and dense ground-cover, favouring areas with freshwater pools, and avoiding short, herbaceous vegetation. Formerly coastal mangroves. Tolerates human-modified habitats, such as agricultural land, but avoids grazed, short-grass meadows.
Galapagos Is, occurring on Pinta, Fernandina, Isabela, Santiago, Santa Cruz, Floreana and San Cristóbal.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 5,000 - 10,000 (2010) and decreasing.
Status VU
Habitat destruction and degradation by introduced herbivores, predation by introduced mammals, are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Habits
A weak flyer.
Food
Mainly invertebrates and seeds.
Voice
Variable. Territorial call is a fast 'chi-chi-chi-chirroo' descending on the last note. Also a descending trill and various rattles, squeaks, hisses, cackles and warbles.
Galapagos Crake (Laterallus spilonota) [XC766727]
by Bram Vogels from Bellavista, Santa Cruz, Islas Gal\u00e1pagos, Ecuador (song)
Galapagos Crake (Laterallus spilonota) [XC761931]
by Bram Vogels from Media Luna, Ecuador (duet, song)
Subspecies
Sometimes considered a subspecies of Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis), of which it is an insular derivative.
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Paint-billed Crake (Neocrex erythrops) which is larger, barred on flanks, lacks white spotting and has red legs and green-and-red bill.
References
See References.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet