Very secretive medium-sized rail that inhabits dense vegetation around wetland habitats in northern and northeastern Australia.
VIC: Vulnerable
Indigenous: Brown Rail, Rufous-Tailed Crake, Rufous-Vented Rail, Bush-Hen
At a glance
FamilyRails, Gallinules, and Coots
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatVery secretive medium-sized rail that inhabits dense vegetation around wetland habitats in northern and northeastern Australia.
Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from December to January.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Marc Anderson
Range map
Range map
450visible hotspots
9531visible records
4states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
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
Rarely seen away from cover. Dull gray-blue body, brown wings and tail, with reddish-brown undertail, yellow-green bill with small shield, and long yellow legs.
Behavior
Gives a variety of calls, usually a loud, repeated, squawky
Gallery
Regional timing
Queensland
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Western Australia
Commonly confused with
Lewin's RailLewinia pectoralisDarker juvenile very dull in comparison and lacks the reddish-brown crown. Buff-banded Rail has a chunkier bill and prominent pale eyebrow. This species is typically difficult to observe as it tends to hide in reed beds, where heard far more often than seen.→Red-necked CrakeRallina tricolorUsually shy, but patient observation at dusk may reward viewers with a sighting. Adult dark olive-brown with rich chestnut head and chest, greenish-yellow bill, black-and-white banded undertail, and red legs. Juvenile mostly dusky. Gives an accelerating sequence of short repeated squawks and squeaks, as well as slower clicks.→Chestnut RailGallirallus castaneoventrisOlive brown above, chestnut below, with gray head, chalky yellow bill, and yellow legs.→