The Zapata rail is a medium-sized, dark-coloured rail. It has brown upperparts, greyish-blue underparts, a red-based yellow bill, white undertail coverts, and red eyes and legs. Its short wings render it almost flightless. It is endemic to the wetlands of the Zapata Peninsula in southern Cuba, where its only known nest was found in sawgrass tussocks. Little is known of its diet or reproductive behaviour, and its described calls may belong to a different species.
Region
Caribbean (Cuba)
Typical Environment
Occurs only within the extensive wetlands of the Ciénaga de Zapata, favoring dense stands of sawgrass and adjacent marsh vegetation. It uses slightly elevated tussocks and hummocks for nesting and refuge, surrounded by shallow water. The species keeps to thick cover, moving quietly through tangles of sedges and reeds. Occasional foraging is thought to occur along narrow channels and the edges of clearer patches within the marsh.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 10 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Zapata rail is a near-flightless rail restricted to the vast reedbeds and sawgrass marshes of the Zapata Peninsula in southern Cuba. It is extraordinarily elusive, with only a handful of confirmed records and even its vocalizations debated, as calls once attributed to it may belong to another species. Habitat loss, fires, drainage, and introduced predators like mongooses and rats pose major threats. Conservation efforts focus on protecting and managing the core wetlands of the Ciénaga de Zapata.
Aerial view of the Zapata Swamp
James Bond found the only known nest and eggs.
The African sharptooth catfish is a major predator of rail chicks.
Temperament
solitary and secretive
Flight Pattern
reluctant flier with very short, weak flights
Social Behavior
Typically encountered alone or in pairs, moving quietly through dense sawgrass. Nesting is poorly known; the only confirmed nest was a platform set within sawgrass tussocks. Likely monogamous, with both adults presumed to attend the nest as in other rails. Most activity occurs under cover, with birds rarely venturing into open areas.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are uncertain; some described calls may have been misattributed to this species. Reported sounds include soft grunts or hoots given from deep cover, but definitive characterization is lacking.
Plumage
Upperparts dark brown with subtle mottling, contrasting with greyish-blue underparts and clean white undertail coverts. Feathers are smooth and close-fitting, aiding movement through dense marsh vegetation.
Diet
Direct data are scarce, but it likely consumes a mix of invertebrates such as insects, spiders, and mollusks gleaned from wet litter and vegetation. It may also take small amphibians or fish when encountered in shallow water. Plant matter, including seeds and tender shoots, is probably taken opportunistically. Foraging is deliberate and close to cover, consistent with its secretive habits.
Preferred Environment
Feeds within dense sawgrass and sedge beds, often along the edges of narrow channels or on firm hummocks surrounded by shallow water. It rarely enters open water, preferring vegetated margins and damp substrates. Cover is essential for both foraging and escape.
