Animalia Life

Amaurornis phoenicurus
SUBFAMILY
Rallinae
TAXONOMY
Gallinula phoenicurus Pennant, 1769, Sri Lanka. Four subspecies recognized.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Rвle а poitrine blanche; German: WeiЯbrust-Kielralle; Spanish: Gallineta Pechiblanca.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
11–13 in (28–33 cm); 5.8–11.6 oz (165–328 g). Dark upperparts, white face and underparts, tawny-rufous rear underparts, and yellow bill and legs. Juvenile duller. Chick black and fluffy.
DISTRIBUTION
A. p. phoenicurus: Pakistan and India east to Japan, and south through southeastern Asia to Sundas; northern populations winter to the south, reaching Arabia; A. p. insularis: Andaman and Nicobar Island; A. p. midnicobaricus: central Nicobar Island; A. p. leucomelanus: Sulawesi, western Moluccas, Lesser Sundas.
HABITAT
Marshes, grass, forest, scrub, and mangroves.
BEHAVIOR
Not particularly shy. Perches, climbs, and swims well. Territorial when breeding. Characteristic calls include roars, grunts, cackles and croaks; often vocal at night.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Takes invertebrates, small fish and some plant material. Forages on land and in water.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Monogamous. Breeds all months, mainly during rains. Nest a cup of twigs, stems, and leaves, close to the ground and near water. Eggs three to nine; color is dull brownish to white/gray with reddish spots and marks. Incubation 20 days by both parents.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened. Common to local over much of its range, which is expanding northeast. Uses humanmade habitats, even in built-up areas.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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