Auckland rail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Auckland rail |
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| Illustration by John Gerrard Keulemans, 1905 | |
| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Lewinia
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| Species: |
muelleri
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The Auckland rail (Lewinia muelleri) is a small bird that lives on the ground. It is a type of rail, which is a family of birds that often live in wetlands. This special bird is found only on the Auckland Islands, which are about 460 kilometers (285 miles) south of New Zealand.
It's quite unique because it's the only bird from its group, called Lewinia, that made it all the way to New Zealand's islands. It even skipped over the main islands to reach the distant Auckland group! Its closest family member is Lewin's rail, which lives in Australia. Today, the Auckland rail can only be found on two islands in the Auckland group: Adams Island and Disappointment Island.
Contents
What Does the Auckland Rail Look Like?
The Auckland rail is a small bird. It has a chestnut (reddish-brown) back and a grey chest. The sides of its body have black and white stripes. Its head is reddish-brown, and it has a red bill.
This rail is smaller than its Australian relative, Lewin's rail. Scientists are not completely sure if it can fly. Some old reports said it could, but newer studies have not found much proof of this. If it can fly, it probably does so very rarely.
Calls and Sounds
Auckland rails make different kinds of sounds. The most common sound is a "crex" call. They repeat this call about 10 or more times in a row, with one second between each call. We don't yet know why they make these calls.
How Do Auckland Rails Reproduce?
Not much is known about how Auckland rails have their babies. The few nests that have been found had two eggs. These eggs were probably laid in early November. The eggs are a creamy color with red, brown, and grey spots.
Why Are Auckland Rails Special?
The Auckland rail is a very shy bird. For many years, people thought it was extinct, meaning it had completely died out. But then, it was found again!
Today, the number of Auckland rails is stable on the two islands where they live. Scientists believe they disappeared from the main Auckland Islands because of animals like feral cats and pigs that were brought there by humans.
Protecting the Auckland Rail
There is hope that if these introduced animals are removed from the main islands, the Auckland rail can be brought back to those areas.
The IUCN and BirdLife International currently consider the Auckland rail a vulnerable species. This means it is at risk of becoming endangered. The main worry is that rats or other harmful animals might reach the two islands where the rails still live.
See also
In Spanish: Rascón de las Auckland para niños
