The grey-throated rail is a species of bird in the family Rallidae, the only member of the genus Canirallus. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
Region
West and Central Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs from Sierra Leone and Guinea east through Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria to Cameroon and south through Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with records in the Central African Republic. It favors primary and mature secondary lowland rainforest, including swamp and riverine forests. The species keeps to dense tangles, vine-choked understory and forest edges near streams. It occasionally uses selectively logged forest if thick ground cover remains, but avoids open country.
Altitude Range
0–1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The grey-throated rail is a secretive forest rail and the sole member of the genus Canirallus. It is more often heard than seen, slipping through dense undergrowth on quiet feet. Its reliance on intact lowland rainforest makes it sensitive to habitat degradation and fragmentation.
Temperament
solitary and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, reluctant to fly
Social Behavior
Usually encountered alone or in pairs, moving quietly through dense cover. Nests are concealed close to the ground in thick vegetation. Both parents are thought to share incubation and chick-rearing duties, with small clutches typical of forest rails.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives a series of soft whistles, grunts and piping notes, often at dawn and dusk. Vocalizations carry through the understory and are used for contact between mates and territorial advertisement.
