Plain-flanked Rail

The Wetmoreralle ( Rallus wetmorei ) is a rare species of bird in the family of Rails. It is endemic in Venezuela. The specific epithet honors the ornithologist Alexander Wetmore U.S..

Features

The Wetmoreralle reached a size 24 to 27 centimeters. The plumage is mostly brown. The crest is olive - brown. About the eyes a bright russet extending over eye-streak. The reins are dark gray. The rest of the face is dull ocher-brown. The top and the tail are ocher-brown with black - brown dotting. The upper wing-coverts are more monochrome. The shield feathers are dark brown. The chin is whitish tan. The throat is ocher brown. The underside is brown ocher and shows no streaks pattern. The lower abdomen is ocher brown longer pink. The coverts can be sometimes whitish. The iris is reddish- brown. The relatively straight, thin beak is dark olive. The base of the lower mandible is lighter brown. The legs are olive - brown.

Occurrence

The Wetmoreralle is limited to a small area on the north coast of Venezuela, where it has been proven in the past to a maximum of nine localities and in recent years only in the eastern Falcón, in northern Carabobo, Aragua and Zulia in. At its discovery it was at least locally common. 1944 and 1945 were caught at Puerto Cabello / San Esteban 11 copies. In May 1951 11 copies at Tucacas were collected. You still occurs in Tucacas, where in June 1999, six pairs were observed. The final proof in Falcón was in 1986 in the Reserva de Fauna Silvestre de Cuare. A specimen was sighted in 2000 at the Las Peonias - lagoon near Maracaibo in Zulia. The latest evidence in Aragua were a couple in Playa de Cata 15 km east of La Cienaga in April 1991 and one pair in Henri Pittier National Park in 1991 and 1993. In Carabobo the Wetmoreralle has not been sighted since 1945.

Habitat and behavior

The Wetmoreralle is obviously site- faithful and inhabited Küstenmangrovewälder, shallow salt water and seasonally flooded brackish lagoons and marshes, which is dominated by halophytischer vegetation, including Batis maritima. The lifestyle of Wetmoreralle is poorly understood. The breeding season begins probably in April or May.

Inventory and risk

BirdLife International classifies the Wetmoreralle in the category of " high risk " ( endangered ), and estimates the stock to 250 to 1000 copies. The main hazard is considered the destruction of the mangrove habitats by building settlements and by the progressive oil production. The Reserva de Fauna Silvestre de Cuare is threatened by illegal settlements, through the construction of hotels, through tourism, illegal hunting, pollution from domestic sewage, pesticides and mercury, through a planned golf course as well as restrictions on the flow of water through the road. Development projects threaten the coastal wetlands of San Esteban and Henri Pittier National Park. The Playa de Cata - lagoon was cut off by a dam from the sea to open up the beach for tourism.