Dot-winged crake
Porzana spiloptera
The dot-winged crake is a near threatened species of bird in subfamily Rallinae of family Rallidae, the rails, gallinules, and coots. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Katherine Sanhueza Bravo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Katherine Sanhueza Bravo
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Gruiformes
Family
Rallidae
Genus
Porzana
Dot-winged crake belongs to the family Rallidae, order Gruiformes, within the Aves class.
Species Profile
The dot-winged crake is a near threatened species of bird in subfamily Rallinae of family Rallidae, the rails, gallinules, and coots. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay.
The Dot-winged Crake faces severe population declines primarily due to widespread habitat loss and degradation of wetland ecosystems throughout its range in South America. Agricultural expansion, urban development, and drainage of marshlands for cattle ranching have significantly reduced available breeding and foraging areas.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
The dot-winged crake's distribution is unsettled. The IOC and Clements place it in southern Uruguay and northern Argentina. The dot-winged crake inhabits freshwater and brackish waters and some drier landscapes as well. It is found in freshwater and tidal marshes, swamps, wet meadows, grasslands, and riparian scrub.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
The Dot-winged Crake faces severe population declines primarily due to widespread habitat loss and degradation of wetland ecosystems throughout its range in South America. Agricultural expansion, urban development, and drainage of marshlands for cattle ranching have significantly reduced available breeding and foraging areas.
Agricultural expansion and intensification
Habitat loss and degradation
Wetland drainage for cattle ranching
Urban development and infrastructure
Water pollution and contamination
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Dot-winged crake (Porzana spiloptera). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/dot-winged-crake