English             -              Slaty-breasted Wood Rail

Portuguese     -               Saracura-do-mato

Latin                -               Aramides Saracura                          

The Slaty-breasted Wood Rail is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. The Slaty-breasted Wood Rail is a rarely seen and shy species that is infrequently observed.

An adult Slaty-breasted Wood Rail can reach 37cm in length and weighs around 550 grams. The crown and the sides of the head are a grey / slightly brownish colour. The nape of the neck is also a brownish colour that gradually becomes olive-brown upon reaching the mantle of the bird. The wings are olive-green in colour. Chin and throat are whitish. The neck, sides, chest and belly show a beautiful blue-grey coloration. The eyes are red with a black pupil. The beak is a Yellowish-green colour with a blueish base. The feet are a reddish-pink colour.           

The Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail is found in south-east Brazil and neighbouring parts of Paraguay and Argentina. It is found in forest and woods where there are marshy and boggy areas.

Little is known about the Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail diet but is thought to consist of worms, molluscs, crustaceans, insects and their larvae, spiders, and the seeds and shoots of marsh plants.

Little is also known about the reproductive habits of the Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail but when the nestlings hatch they are almost black / dark browns including their eyes, beak and legs.

Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing due to its diminishing habitat the decrease is not believed to be at a rate fast enough to reach the thresholds of Vulnerable. Therefore the Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail classified as a species “of Least Concern”. 

Photos of the Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail were taken at Parque das Aves - Foz do Iguacu - Parana