The rufous-necked wood rail (Aramides axillaris) is a species of bird in the subfamily Rallinae of the rail, crake, and coot family Rallidae. It is found in Mexico, Central America, seven mainland South American countries, and Trinidad.
Taxonomy and systematics
The rufous-necked wood rail is monotypic.
Description
The rufous-necked wood rail is 29 to 33 cm (11 to 13 in) long and males weigh on average 292 g (0.644 lb). The sexes are alike. They have long, stout, yellow-green bills and red legs and feet. Adults' head, neck, and breast are rufous brown. Their nape and upper back are gray and the rest of the back olive brown to greenish olive. Their wings are greenish olive and chestnut. Their rump, tail, flanks, and undertail coverts are black. Their throat is white and their belly grayish brown. Juveniles are much duller overall. Their upperparts are like the adults' but duller. Their face, chin, and upper neck are buffy brown to dirty white with a cinnamon wash. Their lower flanks and undertail coverts are deep brownish olive and the rest of their underparts buffy brown with an ochre cinnamon wash.
Standard Measurements
Male
Female
Wing length
16.3–17.4 cm (6.4–6.9 in)
14.55–17 cm (5.73–6.69 in)
tail length
5.3–6.3 cm (2.1–2.5 in)
4.7–6.25 cm (1.85–2.46 in)
exposed culmen
3.95–4.6 cm (1.56–1.81 in)
3.75–4.6 cm (1.48–1.81 in)
tarsus length
5.25–6.3 cm (2.07–2.48 in)
5.0–6.05 cm (1.97–2.38 in)
mass
262–327 g (9.2–11.5 oz)
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Distribution and habitat
The rufous-necked wood rail is found in Mexico on the Pacific coast and the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula and generally (though discontinuously) along both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Central America. In South America it is found along the Pacific coast discontinuously from Colombia through Ecuador to northern Peru, along the Caribbean coast from Colombia through Venezuela and the...
