List of Birds of The Central African Republic - Rails, Crakes, Gallinules, and Coots

Rails, Crakes, Gallinules, and Coots

Order: Gruiformes. Family: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs, and have long toes which are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and be weak fliers. There are 143 species worldwide and 14 species which occur in the Central African Republic.

• White-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura pulchra
• Red-chested Flufftail Sarothrura rufa
• Chestnut-headed Flufftail Sarothrura lugens
• Nkulengu Rail Himantornis haematopus
• Gray-throated Rail Canirallus oculeus
• African Rail Rallus caerulescens
• African Crake Crecopsis egregia
• Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostris
• Little Crake Porzana parva
• Baillon's Crake Porzana pusilla
• Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
• Allen's Gallinule Porphyrio alleni
• Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
• Lesser Moorhen Gallinula angulata