Tribonyx ventralis
The Black-tailed Nativehen (*Tribonyx ventralis*) is a striking member of the rail family (Rallidae), instantly recognizable by its dark slate-grey plumage, stark black tail, and brilliant red bill tipped with yellow, complemented by olive-green legs and feet. Measuring approximately 30-38 cm in length with a wingspan of 55-65 cm and weighing between 250-500 grams, this medium-sized waterbird is highly distinctive among Australian avifauna. Its most notable field marks are its vivid bill colo...
Found primarily in freshwater wetlands, temporary marshes, lignum swamps, and bore drains across arid and semi-arid inland Australia, favoring areas with dense emergent vegetation.
Their diet consists predominantly of plant material, including grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants, supplemented with a variety of invertebrates like insects and small mollusks.
Black-tailed Nativehens are largely diurnal, often observed foraging during the cooler parts of the day, particularly dawn and dusk, and roosting communally in dense cover at night. They are highly gregarious outside the breeding season, forming large flocks that can number in the hundreds or eve...
The Black-tailed Nativehen is widely distributed across mainland Australia, notably absent from Tasmania, and is particularly prevalent in the arid and semi-arid inland regions. Its presence is highly dependent on rainfall, leading to extensive nomadic movements rather than fixed migration patter...
Least Concern
- Black-tailed Nativehens are renowned for their highly nomadic nature, capable of appearing in vast numbers in areas that were previously dry, following unpredictable rainfall events. - Unlike their flightless Tasmanian cousin, they are strong and capable fliers, undertaking long-distance moveme...