Gymnocrex plumbeiventris
The Bare-eyed Rail, a captivating member of the rail family, is a medium-sized bird, typically measuring about 30 cm (12 inches) in length and weighing approximately 200-250 grams. Its plumage is predominantly a deep, sooty-grey to blackish, often with a slightly browner wash on its back and wings, providing excellent camouflage within its dense forest habitat. The most striking and diagnostic field mark is the extensive patch of bare skin around its eye, which glows in vibrant shades of brig...
Dense, wet lowland rainforests, freshwater swamps, and overgrown riparian areas are its primary habitats, typically found at elevations up to 1400 meters but predominantly in the lowlands.
It primarily feeds on a variety of invertebrates including insects, worms, and mollusks, supplemented by small amphibians, seeds, and fallen fruits.
Extremely secretive and elusive, the Bare-eyed Rail is primarily a terrestrial species, spending the majority of its time foraging stealthily within the dense undergrowth. It is presumed to be most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk (crepuscular), but it can be opportunistically ac...
The Bare-eyed Rail is widely distributed across the island of New Guinea, inhabiting both the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua, and the independent nation of Papua New Guinea. Its range also extends to several associated offshore islands, including the Aru Islands, Misool, Waigeo, and...
Least Concern
- The Bare-eyed Rail is often cited as one of New Guinea's most enigmatic birds, more frequently heard than seen by ornithologists. - Its vivid bare skin around the eye, which can be bright red, orange, or yellow, is not just an eye-ring but an extensive facial patch, unique among many cryptic ra...