About the Zapata Rail
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.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Gruiformes |
| Family | Rails, Gallinules, and Coots (Rallidae) |
| Species | Mustelirallus cerverai |
| Species Codes | zaprai1, ZARA |
| Conservation | CR Critically Endangered |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Zapata Rail belong to?
The Zapata Rail (Mustelirallus cerverai) belongs to the Rails, Gallinules, and Coots family (Rallidae), in the order Gruiformes.
What is the conservation status of the Zapata Rail?
The Zapata Rail is classified as "Critically Endangered" (CR) by IUCN Red List.
How can I identify the Zapata Rail?
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...
Where can I report a Zapata Rail sighting?
You can log sightings of Zapata Rail on eBird (ebird.org) using species code zaprai1, or on iNaturalist.
Related Species in Rails, Gallinules, and Coots 156 species
More Birds in Order Gruiformes
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