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Staying on the rail side of Gruiformes, we have Sarothruridae: the flufftails. There are 15 species ranging across Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, Papua, and the Maluku Islands. Pictured are the buff-spotted flufftail (Sarothrura elegans) and the Madagascar wood rail (Mentocrex kioloides).
Flufftails are a poorly studied family of birds, as they are rather secretive and inhabit dense grasslands, marshes, and forests. They were only recently split from the rails to form their own distinct family. The name flufftail is derived from the fluffy plumagethat makes up their tail, as one would expect. During the breeding season, some species are known to preform vocal duets, a trait that will continue to pop up as we explore the bird family tree. Among Gruiformes, flufftails are notably small, being about the size of a thrush.
Breeding typically occurs in the wet season, and both parents take part in brood care.
