Photo: Jonathan M / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Chestnut Forest Rail
Rallicula rubra
Chestnut Forest Rail (Rallicula rubra) — Cranes & Rails of Australia & Oceania.
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The Chestnut Forest Rail (Rallicula rubra) is a member of the Sarothruridae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 81 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Gruiformes
- Family Sarothruridae Flufftails & Forest Rails
- Genus Rallicula
- Species rubra
Where it lives
Montane Bird'southern Head (northwestern New Guinea) and west to east-central New Guinea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 81 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Sarothruridae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Chestnut Forest Rail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Chestnut Forest Rail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Chestnut Forest Rail (Rallicula rubra) is a member of the Sarothruridae family, within the order Gruiformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU montane Bird's Head (nw New Guinea) and w to ec New Guinea.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 81 g, with a wing length of about 9.3 cm and a tail of around 5.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 104,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chestnut Forest Rail?
The Chestnut Forest Rail is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 81 g.
Where does the Chestnut Forest Rail live?
The Chestnut Forest Rail is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU montane Bird's Head (nw New Guinea) and w to ec New Guinea, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Chestnut Forest Rail belong to?
The Chestnut Forest Rail (Rallicula rubra) belongs to the Sarothruridae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the Chestnut Forest Rail eat?
The Chestnut Forest Rail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Chestnut Forest Rail migrate?
The Chestnut Forest Rail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Chestnut Forest Rail endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Chestnut Forest Rail make?
1 real field recording of the Chestnut Forest Rail — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Chestnut Forest Rail's range?
The Chestnut Forest Rail has a mapped global range of about 104,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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