Photo: Toby Hudson / CC BY-SA 3.0 au (Wikimedia Commons)
Lord Howe Woodhen
Gallirallus sylvestris
Lord Howe Woodhen (Gallirallus sylvestris) — Cranes & Rails of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Lord Howe Woodhen (Gallirallus sylvestris) is a member of the Rallidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 494 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Gruiformes
- Family Rallidae Rails, Crakes & Coots
- Genus Gallirallus
- Species sylvestris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 494 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Rallidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Lord Howe Woodhen 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 Lord Howe Woodhen is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Lord Howe Woodhen (Gallirallus sylvestris) is a species of bird in the Rallidae family, part of the order Gruiformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Lord Howe I. (far e of Australia).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 494 g, with a wing length of about 13.9 cm and a tail of around 6.2 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Lord Howe Woodhen?
The Lord Howe Woodhen is a large bird that weighs around 494 g.
Where does the Lord Howe Woodhen live?
The Lord Howe Woodhen is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Lord Howe I. (far e of Australia), where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Lord Howe Woodhen belong to?
The Lord Howe Woodhen (Gallirallus sylvestris) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the Lord Howe Woodhen eat?
The Lord Howe Woodhen is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Lord Howe Woodhen migrate?
The Lord Howe Woodhen is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Lord Howe Woodhen endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
How large is the Lord Howe Woodhen's range?
The Lord Howe Woodhen has a mapped global range of about 2 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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