White-winged Flufftail (Sarothrura ayresi)

Family
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, Coots)

Size
14 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Gurney, 1877)

Habitat
High-altitude seasonal marshes with dense, rapidly growing vegetation dominated by sedges, grasses and forbs. From 1,100 - 2,600 m.

Range (Guide)

Ethiopia (B) (NB), South Africa (NB), Zimbabwe (NB).

Vagrant to Zambia.

Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and South Africa; to date only one reliable record from Zambia (Chingola); sound records from Rwanda questionable, apparently referable to Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum).

Population
Estimated population is 700 (2010) and decreasing.

Status CR
Drainage of seasonal marshes, flooding by dams, catchment erosion, water abstraction, human disturbance, too-frequent burning, and excessive trampling and grazing by livestock and cutting of marsh vegetation for fodder are the main threats.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Food
Seeds and vegetation, insects, spiders, earthworms, small frogs and small fish.

Voice
A soft, double-noted hooting, not unlike call of distant Grey Crowned-Crane (Balearica regulorum).

Subspecies
Sometimes placed in genus Coturnicops, normally with, but on occasion without, other flufftail species. Ethiopian birds first described as Ortygops macmillani. Forms species pair with Slender-billed Flufftail (Sarothrura watersi).

No subspecies.

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for White-winged Flufftail (Sarothrura ayresi) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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