Appearance:

Largest rail in VP. Clearly bigger than coot, and almost twice the size of Moorhen. Generally unmistakable with its dark, violet blue plumage, long, robust legs and heavy bill. Under tail coverts white. Red frontal shield and bill, pinkish red legs. Immature birds with duller coloured legs, duller plumage and faintly greyish/whitish underparts. Trailing legs obvious in flight. Swims readily.

Sound:

Rich repertiore and very vocal. Sounds range from soft, mewing and laughing to hard, extremely shrill trills. Generally louder, and shriller than congeners. Often merges into, or starts with diagnostic, extremely hard trill "krrrrriiit".

Contact calls:

Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Appearance:

Easily overlooked, secretive grouse. Small and compact, with small head and rounded body. Upper parts grey, wings speckled in brown. Tail grey with broad black terminal band. Male with short crest, contrasting black throat patch and generally brighter coloured than female.

Sound:

Song an extremely high pitched whistle; "piuuuuuuuiiii pju pju pju". Start-note typically sustained, first descending then ascending and descending again. Often followed by three short conclusive "pju, pju pju". Warning call of female a bubbling thrill.

Male song:

Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-photo:ressaure, Licence,Link,

CC-photo:mattisj, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:pilot_micha, Licence,Link.