The Austral Rail lives in Patagonian wetlands. Its buff-brown back has black streaks, and its lower belly has black-and-white bars. It uses wetlands with tall rushes and permanent water.
The upperparts are buff-brown with black streaks, and the underparts are pale slaty gray. The lower belly and vent have black-and-white barring, and the bill is dusky red.
In Patagonia it uses wetlands with tall, dense rushes, wet meadow, and a permanent body of water.
IUCN Red List · Vulnerable (VU) · Global
The global population is decreasing. Wetland degradation and predation by introduced American mink are identified as threats.