Buff-spotted flufftail

Buff-spotted flufftail
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Sarothruridae
Genus: Sarothrura
Species:
S. elegans
Binomial name
Sarothrura elegans
(Smith, 1839)
Synonyms

Coturnicops elegans

The buff-spotted flufftail (Sarothrura elegans), also known as the buff-spotted crake, is a species of bird in the family Sarothruridae.

Description

The male has an orange head, neck, and breast, with a sooty-black body covered in buff or white spots. The female is mostly brownish, barred and spotted with black and buff. In general size, this bird measures 15–17 cm (5.9–6.7 in) in length and has a wingspan of 25–28 cm (9.8–11.0 in). It weighs about 46 g (1.6 oz) on average.

Subspecies S. e. reichenovi is smaller than the nominate, and the males are darker above and have larger spots.

S. e. reichenovi measurements
Male Female
Wing 80–91 mm (3.1–3.6 in) 82–92 mm (3.2–3.6 in)
Total culmen 14.5–17.5 mm (0.57–0.69 in) 14.5–17 mm (0.57–0.67 in)
Tarsus 22–26.5 mm (0.87–1.04 in) 23–28 mm (0.91–1.10 in)
Tail 33–40 mm (1.3–1.6 in) 32–41 mm (1.3–1.6 in)

S. e. elegans is the nominate subspecies.

S. e. elegans measurements
Male Female
Wing 83–95 mm (3.3–3.7 in) 84–96 mm (3.3–3.8 in)
Total culmen 15–18.5 mm (0.59–0.73 in) 15–18 mm (0.59–0.71 in)
Tarsus 23–27 mm (0.91–1.06 in) 23–27.5 mm (0.91–1.08 in)
Tail 35–47 mm (1.4–1.9 in) 35–45 mm (1.4–1.8 in)

Ecology

The buff-spotted flufftail inhabits many types of forested areas in Africa.

Its diet is semi-omnivorous, consisting of various invertebrates as well as grass and tree seeds, which are thought to aid it in grinding other foods. It mainly forages through leaf litter. They will drink water daily, sometimes several times a day. It rarely flies.

The buff-spotted flufftail is monogamous and territorial, and maintains pair bonds through the breeding season, which varies significantly by location. Its nest is on the ground and is well covered by plants. The nest is built by the male over 2–3 days, made of grass and dead leaves, and often other plant material. In S. e. elegans, the eggs can be 26.0–31.3 mm (1.02–1.23 in) in length and 20.6–22.8 mm (0.81–0.90 in) in width, and are estimated to weigh about 6.6 g (0.23 oz). There are 3–5 eggs per clutch, which are incubated for 15–16 days. Typically, the male will incubate during the day and the female at night. Chicks hatch precocial and leave the nest within one to two days, and can forage after three days, but their parents will continue to feed them until independence, when they are 19–21 days old in which they will be driver off by their parents. They can also start flying at this time. Adult mass is achieved at around 45 days.

Status

The buff-spotted flufftail is widespread and locally common, and it is not globally threatened. In urban areas, domestic cats and dogs are a major threat to their populations.

Specimen at Nairobi National Museum

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2024). "Sarothrura elegans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2024 e.T22692219A265010658. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T22692219A265010658.en.
  2. ↑ CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses, 2nd Edition by John B. Dunning Jr. (Editor). CRC Press (2008), ISBN 978-1-4200-6444-5.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Taylor, Barry; Kirwan, Guy M.; Boesman, Peter F. D. (2021). "Buff-spotted Flufftail (Sarothrura elegans), version 2.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.busflu1.02. ISSN 2771-3105.
  4. 1 2 3 Taylor, Barry (1998). Rails: a guide to the rails, crakes, gallinules and coots of the world. Robertsbridge, GB: Pica Press. ISBN 978-1-873403-59-4.
  5. ↑ Tarakini, Tawanda; Mabika, Innocent; Mwedzi, Tongayi; Mundy, Peter; Fritz, Hervé (2021-05-11). "Diet and Life-History Traits of Savannah Dwelling Waterbirds in Southern Africa: Implications for Their Conservation Status" (PDF). Birds. 2 (2): 173–184. doi:10.3390/birds2020013. ISSN 2673-6004.
  6. ↑ del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., and Sargatal, J. 1996. Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 3: Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.
  7. ↑ Hockey, P.A.R., Dean, W.R.J. and Ryan, P.G. 2005. Roberts birds of southern Africa. Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa.