The Auckland rail (''Lewinia muelleri'') is a small nearly flightless rail

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

to the

Auckland Islands The Auckland Islands ( Māori: ''Motu Maha'' "Many islands" or ''Maungahuka'' "Snowy mountains") are an archipelago of New Zealand, lying south of the South Island. The main Auckland Island, occupying , is surrounded by smaller Adams Islan ...

460 km south of

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...

. It is somewhat of a

biogeographical Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time. Organisms and biological communities often vary in a regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, ...

anomaly, being the only species in the genus ''

Lewinia ''Lewinia'' is a genus of birds in the family Rallidae. The genus was erected by the English zoologist George Robert Gray in 1855 with Lewin's rail ''Lewinia pectoralis'' as the type species. The genus name is from a synonym of the type specie ...

'' to have reached the islands of New Zealand, skipping over the main islands to reach the remote Auckland group. Its closest relative is

Lewin's rail Lewin's rail (''Lewinia pectoralis'') is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is also known as the water rail, Lewin's water rail, Lewin's grind rail, slate-breasted rail, slate-breasted water rail, pectoral rail, pectoral water rail, sho ...

of Australia. The species is currently restricted to two islands in the Auckland group, Adams Island and Disappointment Island. The Auckland rail is a small rail with chestnut back

plumage Plumage ( "feather") is a layer of feathers that covers a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage differ between species and subspecies and may vary with age classes. Within species, ...

and a grey breast. The flanks are barred black and white and the head is red-brown, with a red

bill Bill(s) may refer to: Common meanings * Banknote, paper cash (especially in the United States) * Bill (law), a proposed law put before a legislature * Invoice, commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer * Bill, a bird or animal's beak Plac ...

. It is smaller than the Australian Lewins' rail. There are conflicting reports about its ability to fly. Early accounts suggested it could; recent researchers have found little evidence for this. If the species is able to fly, it does so very infrequently. Auckland rails have a variety of calls, the most common being a ''crex'' call made at one second intervals 10 or more times in a row. The function of the calls is unknown. Little is known about the reproductive biology of the Auckland rail. The few nests that have been found contained clutches of two eggs, probably laid in early November. The eggs are cream coloured with red, brown and grey spots. The Auckland rail is highly secretive and was considered to be extinct for many years before its rediscovery. The population of about 1500 birds is currently stable on the two islands it survives on. It is thought to have become extinct on the main

due to the presence of introduced

feral cat A feral cat or a stray cat is an unowned domestic cat (''Felis catus'') that lives outdoors and avoids human contact: it does not allow itself to be handled or touched, and usually remains hidden from humans. Feral cats may breed over dozens ...

s and

pig The pig (''Sus domesticus''), often called swine, hog, or domestic pig when distinguishing from other members of the genus ''Sus'', is an omnivorous, domesticated, even-toed, hoofed mammal. It is variously considered a subspecies of ''Sus ...

s; it is hoped the eventual removal of these from the islands will allow for reintroductions to other islands in the group. The species is currently considered

vulnerable Vulnerable may refer to: General * Vulnerability * Vulnerability (computing) * Vulnerable adult * Vulnerable species Music Albums * ''Vulnerable'' (Marvin Gaye album), 1997 * ''Vulnerable'' (Tricky album), 2003 * ''Vulnerable'' (The Used album) ...

by the IUCN and

BirdLife International BirdLife International is a global partnership of non-governmental organizations that strives to conserve birds and their habitats. BirdLife International's priorities include preventing extinction of bird species, identifying and safeguarding ...

due to the possibility of rats or other predators reaching the two islands it survives on.

References

*BirdLife International (2016
Species factsheet: ''Lewinia muelleri''.
Downloaded from on 8/Jul/2016 *

External links

BirdLife Species Factsheet.
*Auckland rail discussed in RNZ ''

Critter of the Week ''Critter of the Week'' is a weekly RNZ National programme about endangered and neglected native plants and animals of New Zealand. Beginning in 2015, ''Critter of the Week'' is an approximately 15-minute discussion between Nicola Toki of the ...

''
30 August 2022
{{Taxonbar, from=Q758663 Auckland rail Birds of the Auckland Islands Auckland rail Endemic birds of New Zealand