Spotted Rail
Pardirallus maculatus (Boddaert, 1783)
25–28 cmLength171 gWeight
The spotted rail (Pardirallus maculatus) is a species of bird in the subfamily Rallinae of the rail, crake, and coot family Rallidae.
Most records: United States, Argentina, Mexico
Where and when it's recorded
Most records: United States, Argentina, Mexico
Spotted Rail has been recorded at 145 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 20 countries and regions.
Records by month Northern Hemisphere
Where it's recorded most
- Choke Canyon SP – Calliham Unit (McMullen Co.)United States746 records
- Rio La TovaraMexico203 records
- ChacalillaMexico189 records
More places
- Arrocera Del ValleNicaragua182 records
- Piracicaba – TanquãBrazil163 records
- San Cristóbal Verapaz – Laguneta ChichojGuatemala130 records
- Reserva Ecológica Ciudad Universitaria - Costanera NorteArgentina81 records
- Reserva Ecológica Costanera SurArgentina80 records
- The DumpBelize80 records
- San Cristóbal Verapaz – Laguna ChichojGuatemala70 records
Countries and regions with the most records
eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.
About
The spotted rail (Pardirallus maculatus) is a species of bird in the subfamily Rallinae of the rail, crake, and coot family Rallidae. It is found in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.
Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia
Questions
How big is the Spotted Rail?
The Spotted Rail is about 25–28 cm long and weighs around 171 g.
Where does the Spotted Rail live?
Its breeding range: Middle America, South America: widespread, also Caribbean. It is most often recorded in United States, Argentina and Mexico.
Is the Spotted Rail endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the Spotted Rail as Least Concern.
What does the Spotted Rail eat?
Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.
What family is the Spotted Rail in?
It belongs to the family Rails, Crakes & Coots (Rallidae), order Gruiformes.
At a glance
- Length
- 25–28 cm
- Weight
- 171 g
- Habitat
- Wetland
- Diet
- Fish, shrimp & shellfish
- Lifestyle
- Active on the ground
- Migration
- Partial migrant
- Conservation
- Least Concern
More measurements
- Wing
- 122 mm
- Tail
- 48 mm
- Bill
- 43 mm
- Tarsus
- 39 mm
Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.
Range
Middle America, South America: widespread, also Caribbean
Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2
Classification
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Family
- Rails, Crakes & Coots Rallidae
- Genus
- Pardirallus
Other birds in the genus Pardirallus
Blackish RailPardirallus nigricans
Plumbeous RailPardirallus sanguinolentus
Grey-throated RailCanirallus oculeus
Chestnut-headed CrakeAnurolimnas castaneiceps
Ash-throated CrakeMustelirallus albicollis
Zapata RailMustelirallus cerverai
Colombian CrakeMustelirallus colombianus
Paint-billed CrakeMustelirallus erythrops
Uniform CrakeAmaurolimnas concolor
Rufous-necked Wood RailAramides axillaris
Download illustration
Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from reference photos. ↗
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