Small rail with brownish upper parts and charcoal gray underparts. Red bill with yellow tip. Red eye. Red legs. Adult: Small head with white throat. Dark gray face, neck and underparts with alternated gray and white vertical stripes on lower flanks and undertail coverts. Continuous brown nape and hind neck. Plain brown back, wings and upper tail. Juvenile similar to adult, but paler.

Length: 20 (cm) Wingspan: 30 (cm)

Habitat:

Marshes, damp fields and wet thickets of shrubs.

Behavior:

Usually very secretive. Forages by picking at prey.

Feeding:

Diet consists of insects and invertebrates.