Flufftail
Flufftail | |
---|---|
White-spotted flufftail | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Gruiformes |
Family: | Sarothruridae |
Genus: | Sarothrura Heine, 1890 |
Type species | |
Gallinula jardinei[1] A. Smith, 1839
| |
Species | |
see list |
Flufftails (genus Sarothrura) are small birds related to
Description
The group's common name is derived from the short tail which has degraded fluffy feathers. All species except the white-winged flufftail display sexual dimorphism in their plumage but not their size.[3] The bodies of males are mostly black, with each species having a characteristic pattern of white spots or streaks. The heads of males are chestnut-colored. Female plumage is predominantly black or brown, paired with the same characteristic patterns.[3] There are some exceptions, however, such as the white-spotted females that also carry the chestnut coloration of their males.[3]
Diet
White-winged flufftails feed on insects, crustaceans, and plant seeds in their wetland environment.[4] White-winged flufftails are waders, and wait for mature seeds to drop into the water.[4]
Distribution and habitat
Flufftails are highly secretive and seldom observed. Two species, the buff-spotted flufftail and the white-spotted flufftail, are inhabitants of dense forests and wetlands, while the remaining species are found in deep grasslands and marshes.[3] The red-chested flufftail and the chestnut-headed flufftail share the same habitat. They often compete with one another, with the former being the more successful species.[3] One species, the streaky-breasted flufftail, is known to be migratory, leaving Africa during the dry season.[3] It is uncertain whether other species are as well; the white-winged flufftail may breed in Ethiopia and winter in South Africa but this is not known for certain.[4] The first breeding population in the South African highlands was recorded via camera trap in 2018.[4]
Behavior
The breeding behavior of the flufftails has not been observed for many species. The use of camera traps and audio devices has helped capture vocalizations of these cryptic birds.
Status and conservation
Although most of the species within this genus are classified to be of least concern, the majority of their populations are decreasing. The white-winged flufftail is currently considered
Species
- Genus Sarothrura (flufftails; 9 species)
- White-spotted flufftail, Sarothrura pulchra
- Buff-spotted flufftail, Sarothrura elegans
- Red-chested flufftail, Sarothrura rufa
- Chestnut-headed flufftail, Sarothrura lugens
- Streaky-breasted flufftail, Sarothrura boehmi
- Striped flufftail, Sarothrura affinis
- Madagascar flufftail, Sarothrura insularis
- White-winged flufftail, Sarothrura ayresi
- Slender-billed flufftail, Sarothrura watersi
References
- ^ "Sarothuridae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
- PMID 25255711.
- ^ hdl:2246/1079.
- ^ PMID 34786203.
- doi:10.5962/p.309712. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2007-09-27.
- .
- .
- ^ PMID 27827442.