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The ocellated crake (Rufirallus schomburgkii) is a small terrestrial species of bird in the family Rallidae that is native to the grassland and savanna habitats of Central America and South America. Though it is not often seen, it is easily recognizable by its cinnamon plumage with black and white mottling. This species was formerly placed in its own genus Micropygia .
The ocellated crake has a very scattered distribution, and is found primarily in South America, but the northern edge of its range extends into Central America. It is found in Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Suriname, French Guiana and Guyana. A population was also recently found to inhabit Argentina. The known range of the ocellated crake has been expanding in recent years, in part because in the past its vocalizations have been difficult to distinguish from other closely-related species of rails including those of the Laterallus and Anurolimnas genera.
Rails are notoriously difficult to observe due to their small size and difficult to access habitat, so they are easier to identify through their trills, which are their most distinctive type of vocalization. Increasing recognition of the trill, along with more access to recordings and the ability to use the playback technique have made the species easier to detect, leading to a more comprehensive distribution.
