Distribution and natural history of the mangrove-dwelling Gray-necked Wood-Rail, Aramides cajaneus avicenniae Stotz, 1992, in southeastern Brazil

We revise the distribution and habitat associations of Aramides cajaneus avicenniae, a localised Brazilian form of the widespread Gray-necked Wood-Rail, and provide data on its foraging and breeding behaviors. This rail is a mangrove specialist endemic to the coastal belt from Sao Paulo to Santa Catarina, with some insular populations off the northern coast of Sao Paulo. Crabs, especially Uca spp., are the main prey in mangroves while island birds feed on large ground-dwelling arthropods and scavenge fish dropped by seabirds. Breeding is tied to the rainy season and nests found in mangrove sites were built with twigs and leaves on trees overhanging rivers and tidal channels and had 1-6 eggs.