New Caledonian Rail

This cryptic rail is only known from seventeen specimens taken between 1860 and 1890 on New Caledonia. This bird is supposed to live in evergreen forests and seems to have moved higher up on the island to escape introduced predators. Its diet consists of invertebrates, including earthworms.

The New Caledonian Rail is classified as Critically Endangered (CR), facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

The New Caledonian Rail (Gallirallus lafresnayanus) is a large and drab flightless rail that is found on the island of New Caledonia in the Pacific. It is a dull brown above, with grey underparts, and has a yellowish, downward-curving bill. No one knows what it sounds like and it is not even known if it is a nocturnal or crepuscular rail. This cryptic rail is only known from seventeen specimens taken between 1860 and 1890 on New Caledonia. More

The New Caledonian Rail (Gallirallus lafresnayanus) is a large and drab flightless rail that is found on the island of New Caledonia in the Pacific. It is a dull brown above, with grey underparts, and has a yellowish, downward-curving bill. No one knows what it sounds like and it is not even known... More

The New Caledonian Rail and the New Caledonian Lorikeet have not been seen for over a hundred years and are considered to be critically endangered if not actually extinct. New Caledonia is considered a conservation priority by many organizations, and work is underway to preserve the islands' unique ecosystems. More

New Caledonian Rail (Gallirallus lafresnayanus) - Range: isand of New Caledonia New Caledonian Red-fronted Parakeets (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae saisseti) - Range: New Caledonia Black-winged Petrel New Caledonian Swamphen (Porphyrio kukwiedei) - Range: Extinct New Caledonian Whistler (Pachycephala caledonica): Fairly common in the forests of Rivi More