Gallirallus sylvestris
The Lord Howe Woodhen, *Gallirallus sylvestris*, is a medium-sized, flightless rail, an iconic symbol of conservation success. Measuring 36-42 cm in length and weighing 270-490 g, its plumage is characterized by olive-brown upperparts contrasting with a striking greyish head, neck, and breast, while its flanks and belly sport a rich, rusty-brown hue. Distinctive field marks include its stout, pinkish-orange legs and feet, a relatively short, dark, upturned tail, and bright reddish-orange eyes...
This terrestrial rail is primarily found in the dense, subtropical forests and palm forests of Lord Howe Island, favoring areas with a deep leaf litter layer for foraging, typically at higher elevations in the mountainous regions.
Their diet consists mainly of invertebrates, including earthworms, insects, and their larvae, snails, and amphipods, supplemented by some fallen fruits and seeds, primarily foraging by scratching and probing forest leaf litter.
Lord Howe Woodhens are diurnal birds, highly active during the day, foraging primarily in the early morning and late afternoon by scratching and probing through leaf litter and soil with their stout bills. They are fiercely territorial, with monogamous pairs defending a specific home range, often...
The Lord Howe Woodhen is strictly endemic to the Lord Howe Island Group, an isolated volcanic archipelago in the Tasman Sea, approximately 600 kilometers east of mainland Australia. Historically, its range encompassed the entire main Lord Howe Island, but by the late 20th century, it was restrict...
Vulnerable
- The Lord Howe Woodhen is a flightless bird, an adaptation common among island species lacking native ground predators. - In 1980, its population plummeted to a mere 30 individuals, making it one of the world's most critically endangered birds. - Its dramatic recovery is a testament to intensive...