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Buff-banded Rail

Did you know?

The Buff-banded Rail is secretive but not shy and may be seen in places like the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. It darts into cover when disturbed and the young will scurry into cover when adults give an alarm call.

Calls
Loud creaky squeak when breeding but usually silent.
Facts and Figures
Research Species: 
No
Minimum Size: 
28cm
Maximum Size: 
33cm
Average size: 
31cm
Average weight: 
130g
Breeding season: 
September to February
Clutch Size: 
5 to 8 eggs
Incubation: 
19 days
Nestling Period: 
1 days
Conservation Status
Federal: 
Secure
NSW: 
Secure
NT: 
Secure
QLD: 
Secure
SA: 
Secure
TAS: 
Secure
VIC: 
Secure
WA: 
Secure
Basic Information
Scientific Name: 
Gallirallus philippensis
Featured bird groups: 
Water birds
Atlas Number: 
46
What does it look like?
Description: 

The Buff-banded Rail is a medium-sized stout rail with short legs. It has a distinctive grey eyebrow and an orange-brown band on its streaked breast. The lores, cheek and hindneck are rich chestnut. The chin and throat are grey, the upperparts streaked brown and the underparts barred black and white. The eye is red. Young birds are much paler to white underneath, with indistinct bars and only a faint orange-brown tint on the breast. Downy chicks are fluffy black. This rail walks slowly, with tail raised and flicking constantly.

Similar species: 

The orange-brown breast band distinguishes the Buff-banded Rail from the similar but smaller Lewin's Rail,Dryolimnas pectoralis, which has a rich chestnut crown and nape and a proportionally longer pink bill.

Where does it live?
Distribution: 

The Buff-banded Rail is widespread in mainland Australia, particularly along the eastern coast and islands, and on Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands. It is also found in south-east Asia, New Guinea and New Zealand.

Habitat: 

The Buff-banded Rail is seen singly or in pairs in dense reeds and vegetation bordering many types of wetlands or crops. It makes widespread use of artificial wetlands like sewage ponds and drainage channels.

Seasonal movements: 

The Buff-banded Rail is resident and possibly locally nomadic, though little is known of these movements.

What does it do?
Feeding: 

The Buff-banded Rail feeds on crustaceans, molluscs, insects, seeds, fruit, frogs, carrion and refuse. It mostly feeds early in the morning and the evening.

Breeding: 

Breeding is poorly known, but the Buff-breasted Rail nests in long grass, tussocks, rushes or crops. It makes an unlined cup-shaped nest of grasses or reeds. Both parents incubate and the young will leave the nest within 24 hours. Both parents remain with the young, which usually feed themselves, though the female may feed them as well. Two broods may be raised in some seasons.

References: 
Australian Birds: Their Nests and Eggs.
Field guide to Australian Birds.
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, Volume 2 (Raptors to Lapwings).
The Waterbirds of Australia
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