Ecuadorian Rail

The Ecuadorian rail (Rallus aequatorialis) is a species of bird according to the International Ornithological Committee (IOC), AOS, and Clements checklist, but other taxonomic systems treat it as a subspecies of the Virginia rail (R. limicola). It is in subfamily Rallinae of family Rallidae, the rails, gallinules, and coots. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. == Taxonomy and systematics == The IOC treats the Ecuadorian rail as a separate species with two subspecies, the nominate R. a. aequatorialis and R. a. meyerdeschauenseei. They base this treatment on Ridgely & Greenfield (2001). However, the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society, the Clements taxonomy, and BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW) treat those two taxa as subspecies of the Virginia rail. This article follows the IOC model. == Description == The Ecuadorian rail is 20 to 21 cm (7.9 to 8.3 in) long and weighs about 85 g (3.0 oz). The sexes are alike. Adults have a long, slightly decurved, bill that is reddish brown with a bright orange base. Their legs are dull orange. They have brown upperparts with blackish streaking and much rufous on the wing coverts. Their face and the…