Rufous-necked Wood-Rail Aramides axillaris

Rufous-necked Wood-Rail principally is a coastal species, inhabiting mangrove swamps, marshes, lagoons, and mudflats, but in its South American range this species also occasionally is found in dense forest undergrowth up to at least 1800 m. This wood-rail occurs from Mexico south to Panama, and in South America east along the Caribbean coast to Guyana and on Trinidad, and south along the Pacific shoreline to northwest Peru, in which country it was discovered only recently. One of the smaller wood-rails, this species differs from all of its congeners in lacking any trace of gray on the head, neck or underparts, making it easily identified. Rufous-necked Wood-Rail appears to mainly feed on crabs, and to be most active early and late in the day; it is also vocal at night.