Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
The Plumbeous Rail is a medium-sized, slate-gray bird with a long, slightly curved bill marked by a reddish base and yellow tip. It is often heard more than seen, as it prefers to stay hidden among dense reeds and marsh vegetation. This rail is highly vocal, especially at dawn and dusk, producing a series of sharp, repetitive calls. Its legs are long and pinkish, well-suited for wading through shallow water and mud. The species is distributed widely across southern South America, including the wetlands, lakes, and marshes of Patagonia. It is an adaptable bird, able to live in both pristine and disturbed habitats, and is sometimes seen foraging at the edges of rice fields or irrigation ditches. The Plumbeous Rail is mostly solitary or found in pairs, and it is known for its secretive nesting habits, building well-concealed nests among dense vegetation.
Habitat
Found in freshwater marshes, reedbeds, lakeshores, and wet grasslands throughout Patagonia and southern South America.
Foraging
Feeds on insects, small invertebrates, seeds, and aquatic plants, foraging mostly by walking and probing in shallow water or mud.
