Bird species profile
Austral Rail
Rallus antarcticus
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Family
- Rallidae
About the species
The Austral Rail is a small, elusive rail native to southern South America, particularly Patagonia. It has a slender body, grayish plumage with brown streaks, and a short tail. The Austral Rail is globally classified as Vulnerable. It is strongly associated with dense, tall wetland vegetation, including sedge- and rush-dominated marshes, where it is more often heard than seen. The rediscovery of the Austral Rail after decades without confirmed sightings highlights both the challenges and surprises of Patagonian ornithology.
Habitat
Dense, tall sedge- and rush-dominated marshes and wet meadows in southern Argentina and Chile, usually associated with permanent water.
Foraging
Feeds by probing mud and shallow water for insects, small invertebrates, and seeds.
