The Spot-flanked Gallinule (Gallinula melanops) is a South-American Rail whose flanks are brown, conspicuously spotted with white. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay - where it inhabits swamps and freshwater lakes. The adult has brown back, wings and uppertail. The flight feathers are dark grey to blackish. Head, chin, throat and breast are slate grey. The belly is white as the undertail-coverts. Axillaries are barred. Both sexes are similar.