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Secretive, very large rail (approaching Australasian Swamphen in size), only likely to be seen in and near mangroves, foraging in the mud along tidal creeks and estuaries in northern Australia.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
Indigenous: Chestnut-Bellied Rail
At a glance
FamilyRails, Gallinules, and Coots
SizeMedium
RarityUncommon
HabitatReedbeds, marsh edges, farm dams, sedgelands, and thick waterside vegetation.
Best timeMost reliable in Northern Territory from July to October.
Range map
Range map
142visible hotspots
2214visible records
3states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Olive brown above, chestnut below, with gray head, chalky yellow bill, and yellow legs.
Behavior
Secretive, very large rail (approaching Australasian Swamphen in size), only likely to be seen in and near mangroves, foraging in the mud along tidal creeks and estuaries in northern Australia. Calls loudly, with grunts and wild honking squawks.
Gallery