General
Red-legged Crake: Small to medium rail with red-brown head and breast, red eyering, brown back and wings with some black and white marks. White belly and vent with black barring. Short to medium-length, gray-black bill with blue-gray base and red on gape. Short, broad wings. Very short, brown tail. Fairly long, red legs. Feeds on earthworms and other small invertebrates. Forages by picking prey off of the wet ground.
Breeding and Nesting
Red-legged Crake: Although very little is known about the nesting behavior of this species, it is probably similar to other rails. The related Slaty-legged Crake lays three to four, gray-white eggs in a shallow cup nest made of grass. The nest is built about a meter above the ground in second growth. Both sexes incubate for around 20 days.
Foraging and Feeding
Red-legged Crake: Feeds on earthworms and other small invertebrates. This rail forages by carefully walking through wet areas of second growth and forest, and picking up food items with its bill from the wet ground and leaf litter.
Vocalization
Red-legged Crake: Species emits a loud "gogogogok" advertising call. Nasal "pek" calls are given in breeding season. Also produces a descending trill.