Lewin's rail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lewin's rail |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lewinia
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| Species: |
pectoralis
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| Synonyms | |
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Rallus pectoralis Temminck, 1831 |
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Lewin's rail (Lewinia pectoralis) is a shy species of bird that belongs to the Rallidae family. You can find these birds in Australia, Wallacea, and New Guinea. Lewin's rail has many other names too, like the water rail, Lewin's water rail, or slate-breasted rail. Its natural habitat is usually warm, moist forests with lots of plants, often near water.
Contents
Types of Lewin's Rail
Did you know that animals can have different "types" or groups within the same species? These are called subspecies. Scientists have found eight different subspecies of Lewin's rail. Each subspecies might have slightly different features or live in a specific area.
Some of these subspecies live in New Guinea:
- L. p. mayri (Hartert, 1930) – found in the Arfak Mountains
- L. p. captus (Mayr & Gilliard, 1951) - lives in central New Guinea
Others are found in Australia:
- L. p. clelandi (Mathews, 1911) – this subspecies used to live in south-western Australia, but it is now extinct.
- L. p. pectoralis (Temminck, 1831) – found in eastern and south-eastern Australia
- L. p. brachipus (Swainson, 1838) – lives in Tasmania
Protecting Lewin's Rail
The "conservation status" of an animal tells us how much danger it is in. Lewin's rails are not listed as highly threatened across all of Australia. However, their situation can be different from state to state.
For example, in Victoria, Lewin's rail is considered a vulnerable animal. This means it needs special protection to help its numbers grow. In Western Australia, one subspecies, the Lewin's water rail (Rallus pectoralis clelandi), is sadly thought to be extinct.
People are working to protect these birds. Near Brisbane Airport, new wetlands were created to give Lewin's rails a safe place to live. Local councils, like Redland City Council, also work to control pests that might harm native birds like the Lewin's rail. It's against the law to harm these birds or their homes without permission.
Life of a Lewin's Rail
Lewin's rails are very secretive birds, meaning they are hard to spot! They prefer to live in wet areas, like swamps or marshes, where there are many thick plants. These plants help them hide from predators. They can even live in wetlands made by humans, as long as there's plenty of dense plant cover.
Reproduction and Nests
Lewin's rails usually have their babies during the summer. They build saucer-shaped nests on the ground using dry plants like reeds and grasses. These nests are often placed just above the water's edge, hidden in thick plants. A female Lewin's rail will lay about three to five eggs in her nest.
What They Eat
These birds look for food in shallow water, staying hidden under plants. They mostly eat small invertebrates, which are creatures without backbones, like insects or worms. Sometimes, they might also eat bird eggs or small frogs.
Why They Need Our Help
Lewin's rails face several challenges that threaten their survival:
- Loss of habitat: When wetlands are changed or destroyed, these birds lose their homes.
- Disturbed nests: If their nests are disturbed, the eggs or young birds might not survive.
- Introduced species: Animals brought to Australia from other countries, like cats or foxes, can hunt Lewin's rails and their young.
See also
In Spanish: Rascón pectoral para niños
