The chestnut-headed flufftail is a species of bird in the family Sarothruridae. It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Region
Central and East Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs patchily in suitable wet habitats across Angola, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia. Prefers dense sedge and grass marshes, papyrus and swampy forest edges, and seasonally flooded valley bottoms. It keeps to thick cover near shallow water, using runways under vegetation. In some regions it occupies montane bogs and wet grasslands.
Altitude Range
0–2500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A secretive rail of dense marsh and swamp edges, the chestnut-headed flufftail is more often heard than seen. Males give repetitive hoots and clicks at dawn and dusk, sometimes in duet with the female. Like other flufftails, it often runs through cover rather than flying, relying on its short tail and compact body to slip between stems.
Temperament
secretive and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats; reluctant flier
Social Behavior
Typically solitary or in pairs within dense cover. Nests are concealed low in thick vegetation over or near water, with both sexes likely involved in care. Territorial calling is most frequent at crepuscular hours, especially in the breeding season.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A repetitive series of soft hoots and ticking notes, often mechanical in quality and delivered from hidden perches. Pairs may duet, with phrases carrying across marshes in calm conditions.
Plumage
Compact, short-tailed rail with rounded wings; male shows a rich chestnut head contrasting with darker, finely spotted and barred body; female is browner with buffy mottling and less contrast. Underparts and flanks often show pale speckling against dark background. Tail is extremely short, giving a stubby, ‘fluffy’ rear aspect.
Diet
Primarily takes small invertebrates such as ants, termites, beetles, spiders, and small worms. Forages by picking and probing in soft mud and leaf litter beneath dense stems. May occasionally take small seeds or other plant matter when available.
Preferred Environment
Feeds within dense sedges, grasses, and papyrus stands, often along the edges of shallow pools or seepage zones. Uses narrow runways and tunnels under vegetation to move and forage while remaining concealed.
