Pale-vented Bush-hen

1. Pale to reddish-brown undertail patch contrasting with gray-blue and brown plumage

2. Lime green bill, sometimes with orange-red shield in breeding season, and olive-yellow legs

3. Secretive, usually heard rather than seen, inhabiting dense wetland vegetation

These birds are skilled at moving quietly through dense vegetation, relying on stealth and speed rather than flight. Their diet includes seeds, aquatic plants, insects, and small animals foraged from wetland edges. Breeding occurs mainly in the warmer months, with nests hidden in thick vegetation near water. Both parents care for the eggs and chicks. The species is generally stable, though wetland degradation poses a risk in some areas`.`

Pale-vented Bush-hens are found in the thickest grass, reeds, or undergrowth along the edges of freshwater streams, swamps, and wetlands. In Australia, their range extends from the Top End and Cape York Peninsula south through eastern Queensland to north-eastern New South Wales, with records in the Kimberley and Torres Strait islands. They are most active and vocal at dawn and dusk, making these the best times to locate them by sound.