Photo: John Gould / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
New Guinea Flightless Rail
Megacrex inepta
New Guinea Flightless Rail (Megacrex inepta) — Cranes & Rails of Australia & Oceania.
The New Guinea Flightless Rail (Megacrex inepta) is a member of the Rallidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 1.2 kg. 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 Rallidae Rails, Crakes & Coots
- Genus Megacrex
- Species inepta
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.2 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Rallidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The New Guinea Flightless Rail is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense woodland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The New Guinea Flightless Rail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The New Guinea Flightless Rail (Megacrex inepta) is a species of bird in the Rallidae family, part of the order Gruiformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU wc to ec New Guinea.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.2 kg, with a wing length of about 17.4 cm and a tail of around 3.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 90,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the New Guinea Flightless Rail?
The New Guinea Flightless Rail is a very large bird that weighs around 1.2 kg.
Where does the New Guinea Flightless Rail live?
The New Guinea Flightless Rail is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU wc to ec New Guinea, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the New Guinea Flightless Rail belong to?
The New Guinea Flightless Rail (Megacrex inepta) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the New Guinea Flightless Rail eat?
The New Guinea Flightless Rail is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the New Guinea Flightless Rail migrate?
The New Guinea Flightless Rail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the New Guinea Flightless 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.
How large is the New Guinea Flightless Rail's range?
The New Guinea Flightless Rail has a mapped global range of about 90,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Rallidae
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Cranes & Rails
Not Evaluated
Extinct
Least Concern