The striped crake is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is the only species in the genus Aenigmatolimnas, having formerly been included in Porzana or in the defunct genus Poliolimnas. Its precise relationships, however, are still enigmatic.
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs patchily from West and Central Africa east to Ethiopia and south through Zambia, Angola, Botswana, and northern South Africa. Favors ephemeral wetlands, seasonally flooded grasslands, marsh edges, and shallow pans. Often uses rice fields and inundated savanna when natural wetlands are scarce. Its presence is strongly tied to recent rainfall and flooding, leading to highly irregular local occurrence.
Altitude Range
0–2000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A secretive African rail, the striped crake is the sole member of the genus Aenigmatolimnas, and its relationships within Rallidae remain puzzling. It follows seasonal rains and can appear suddenly at newly flooded grasslands, then vanish as sites dry out. Because it is elusive and vocal mainly at night, it is often detected by call rather than sight.
Temperament
solitary and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically encountered singly or in pairs, skulking through dense sedges and grasses. Builds a well-concealed nest near shallow water, often a platform of grasses. Likely monogamous, with both adults participating in incubation and chick care.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Vocal mostly at dusk and night with a series of sharp, repetitive clicks and whistles. Calls can accelerate into trills, carrying over flooded grasslands after heavy rains.
Plumage
Upperparts warm brown with darker streaking; underparts show bold black-and-white barring, especially on the flanks and belly. Throat paler to whitish with fine streaking on the breast. Feathers are smooth and sleek, aiding movement through dense grass.
Diet
Takes a variety of small invertebrates such as insects, larvae, worms, and small mollusks. Also consumes seeds and other plant material, particularly when animal prey is scarce. Forages by picking from the water surface, probing soft mud, and gleaning from low vegetation.
Preferred Environment
Feeds along the edges of shallow pools, in wet grassy swales, and among sedges in seasonally flooded plains. Will use man-made wetlands like rice paddies and roadside pans when suitably vegetated.
