Flufftail
Encyclopedia
The flufftails are a genus
, Sarothrura, of small birds in the rail
family
. The genus is restricted to seven species distributed across sub-Saharan Africa
, and two species found in Madagascar
. The group's common name is derived from the short tail which has degraded fluffy feather
s. All species except the White-winged Flufftail display sexual dimorphism
in their plumage
but not their size.
Flufftails are highly secretive and seldom observed. Two species, the Buff-spotted Flufftail and the White-spotted Flufftail, are inhabitants of dense forests, the remaining species are found in deep grasslands and marshes. One species, Streaky-breasted Flufftail, is known to be migratory
, 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.
The breeding behaviour of the flufftails has not been observed for many species. Many species breed in the wet season
. All species are highly vocal
during the breeding season, with repertoires including duets. In the Madagascar Flufftail the courtship behaviour consists of duetting, nest
building, which is undertaken by the male, nest visits by the female and copulation. The nests are domed, and in the Madagascar Flufftail it is positioned high above the ground in vines, in the White-winged Flufftail the nest is in reeds over waterlogged ground. The eggs of all the species that have been studied are white, which is unusual for rails. The chicks are covered in black down at birth and have a slightly coloured bill; adult plumage is quickly attained in most species. Both parents care for the chicks.
Two species are currently considered endangered
by the IUCN, the White-winged Flufftail and the Slender-billed Flufftail. They are threatened with habitat loss caused by the draining of wetlands for cultivation.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
, Sarothrura, of small birds in the rail
Rallidae
The rails, or Rallidae, are a large cosmopolitan family of small to medium-sized birds. The family exhibits considerable diversity and the family also includes the crakes, coots, and gallinules...
family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
. The genus is restricted to seven species distributed across sub-Saharan Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, and two species found in Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. The group's common name is derived from the short tail which has degraded fluffy feather
Feather
Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds and some non-avian theropod dinosaurs. They are considered the most complex integumentary structures found in vertebrates, and indeed a premier example of a complex evolutionary novelty. They...
s. All species except the White-winged Flufftail display sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
in their plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
but not their size.
Flufftails are highly secretive and seldom observed. Two species, the Buff-spotted Flufftail and the White-spotted Flufftail, are inhabitants of dense forests, the remaining species are found in deep grasslands and marshes. One species, Streaky-breasted Flufftail, is known to be migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
, it is uncertain whether other species are as well; the White-winged Flufftail may breed in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
and winter in South Africa but this is not known for certain.
The breeding behaviour of the flufftails has not been observed for many species. Many species breed in the wet season
Wet season
The the wet season, or rainy season, is the time of year, covering one or more months, when most of the average annual rainfall in a region occurs. The term green season is also sometimes used as a euphemism by tourist authorities. Areas with wet seasons are dispersed across portions of the...
. All species are highly vocal
Bird song
Bird vocalization includes both bird calls and bird songs. In non-technical use, bird songs are the bird sounds that are melodious to the human ear. In ornithology and birding, songs are distinguished by function from calls.-Definition:The distinction between songs and calls is based upon...
during the breeding season, with repertoires including duets. In the Madagascar Flufftail the courtship behaviour consists of duetting, nest
Nest
A nest is a place of refuge to hold an animal's eggs or provide a place to live or raise offspring. They are usually made of some organic material such as twigs, grass, and leaves; or may simply be a depression in the ground, or a hole in a tree, rock or building...
building, which is undertaken by the male, nest visits by the female and copulation. The nests are domed, and in the Madagascar Flufftail it is positioned high above the ground in vines, in the White-winged Flufftail the nest is in reeds over waterlogged ground. The eggs of all the species that have been studied are white, which is unusual for rails. The chicks are covered in black down at birth and have a slightly coloured bill; adult plumage is quickly attained in most species. Both parents care for the chicks.
Two species are currently considered endangered
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
by the IUCN, the White-winged Flufftail and the Slender-billed Flufftail. They are threatened with habitat loss caused by the draining of wetlands for cultivation.
- Genus Sarothrura (flufftails; 9 species)
- White-spotted FlufftailWhite-spotted FlufftailThe White-spotted Flufftail is a species of bird in the Rallidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia,...
, Sarothrura pulchra - Buff-spotted FlufftailBuff-spotted FlufftailThe Buff-spotted Flufftail is a species of bird in the Rallidae family.It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone,...
, Sarothrura elegans - Red-chested FlufftailRed-chested FlufftailThe Red-chested Flufftail is a species of bird in the Rallidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone,...
, Sarothrura rufa - Chestnut-headed FlufftailChestnut-headed FlufftailThe Chestnut-headed Flufftail is a species of bird in the Rallidae family.It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia.-References:...
, Sarothrura lugens - Streaky-breasted FlufftailStreaky-breasted FlufftailThe Streaky-breasted Flufftail is a species of bird in the Rallidae family.It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:*...
, Sarothrura boehmi - Striped FlufftailStriped FlufftailThe Striped Flufftail is a species of bird in the Rallidae family.It is found in Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.-References:...
, Sarothrura affinis - Madagascar FlufftailMadagascar FlufftailThe Madagascar Flufftail is a species of bird in the Rallidae family.It is endemic to Madagascar.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
, Sarothrura insularis - White-winged FlufftailWhite-winged FlufftailThe White-winged Flufftail is a very rare African bird in the Rallidae family. Its scientific name honours South African ornithologist Thomas Ayres.-Description:...
, Sarothrura ayresi - Slender-billed FlufftailSlender-billed FlufftailThe Slender-billed Flufftail is a species of bird in the Rallidae family.It is endemic to Madagascar.Its natural habitats are swamps and arable land.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, Sarothrura watersi
- White-spotted Flufftail