Gallirallus owstoni

(Hardwicke, 1834)

Vernacular names
English : Guam rail
French : Râle de Guam

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Gruiformes
Family : Rallidae
Notes : No subspecies known. Formerly placed in genus Hypotaenidia.

Identification
Adults can reach 28 cm in length for a weight of 303 g. The species is almost flightless. Black bill, red eyes. Plumage mostly dull brown with grey supercilium, chin and breast. Black belly with thin white stripes. Dark red legs.

Range and habitat
The species was endemic to Guam. Reintroduced on Rota and Cocos Isl. Lives in forests, grasslands and gardens, even near roads.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species was previously very common but got extinct in the wild in the 1980s because of the introduction of Boiga irregularis. The rail is now reintroduced on Rota and more reintroduction, even on Guam, are planned.
Ex-Situ Programs : SSP in America

Observation
Oklahoma City Zoo (USA)

 

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