Black-banded Crake Anurolimnas fasciatus

Sometimes placed in the genus Laterallus, on the basis of some similarity in its vocalizations to members of the latter genus, the Black-banded Crake is a poorly known and perhaps genuinely rare (rather than merely under-recorded) resident of upper Amazonia. It is found from southern Colombia south to eastern Peru, and east into west Amazonian Brazil. The head and underparts are entirely rufous, with broad black bars over the flanks and belly, and a dark brown back and wings. It requires tall wet grass or marshy vegetation, often close to rivers, and occurs to approximately 500 m elevation. Nothing is known concerning the species’ diet, but the Black-banded Crake builds a bulky, domed nest constructed of grasses.