Rails, Gallinules and Coots (Rallidae)

African Rail (Rallus caerulescens) - HBW 3, p. 170

French: Râle bleuâtre German: Kapralle Spanish: Rascón Cafre
Other common names: African Water/Cape/Kaffir Rail

Taxonomy: Rallus cærulescens Gmelin, 1789, Cape of Good Hope.
Forms superspecies with R. aquaticus and R. madagascariensis. Monotypic.

Distribution: Sub-Saharan Africa, principally from Ethiopia to E Zaire and Kenya and S to Cape of Good Hope. Status uncertain in W Africa; occurrence in NE Central African Republic and coastal Kenya requires confirmation.