Adult Morphology:
The adult bird has a white chin and throat, with some buff coloration in the juvenile birds. The head, neck, and back are brown. The remaining dorsal plumage and wing coverts are dark brown, with a slight yellowish-green tinge. The lower back and belly are barred with alternating black and white patterns, often with a black patch in the center of the belly.
Juvenile Morphology:
The head and neck of the juvenile bird are similar in color to the back. The sides of the head and neck are grayish-brown. The upper back is brown. The inner webs of the wing feathers have some white barring. The axillaries and wing coverts are barred with white and black. The eyes are dark brown. The legs are lead-gray with a pale greenish tinge.
Measurements:
Wing: 122 – 132 mm; Tail: 55 – 64 mm; Tarsus (leg): 39 – 46 mm; Bill: 27 – 28 mm.
Distribution:
This species of rail is distributed in Sri Lanka, India, Burma, Malaysia, Indochina, and Southern China. In Vietnam, this species has only been recorded in Quảng Trị province.