Contributions for a comparative analysis of the Dot-Winged Crake (Porzana spiloptera) and the Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis) songs

Abstract

We examined the similarity in the vocalizations of Porzana spiloptera and Laterallus jamaicensis. Both species have a similar vocal repertoire and their songs are very similar in the structure of the notes. Vocalizations of both species could be confused in the field due to their timbre and structure, but their songs are distinctive by the number of high-pitched notes that precede the final low note. The song of Porzana spiloptera is more similar to the song of the North American and Caribbean subspecies of Laterallus jamaicensis than to the song of the South American subspecies. We compared the songs of both species with the song of an individual found in western Río Negro Province previously considered to be Laterallus jamaicensis. The song is indistinguishable from that of Porzana spiloptera and different from that of Laterallus jamaicensis salinasi, thus we concluded that it belongs to Porzana spiloptera.