How do you identify a Calayan Rail?

The Calayan rail is a relatively large flightless rail. Full identification notes are on this page.

How big is a Calayan Rail?

The Calayan Rail is a medium sized bird weighing about 244 g.

Where can you see a Calayan Rail?

The Calayan Rail is endemic to the Philippines, which is the only country where it occurs.

What birds look similar to a Calayan Rail?

The Calayan Rail is most easily confused with the Roviana Rail, the Invisible Rail and the Pink-legged Rail.

Is the Calayan Rail endangered?

The Calayan Rail is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Calayan Rail

Gallirallus calayanensis

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots · Gruiformes · Legendary

The Calayan Rail (Gallirallus calayanensis) is a legendary rails, gallinules, and coot found only in the Philippines, weighing about 244 g. The Calayan rail is a flightless bird of the rail, moorhen, and coot family (Rallidae) that inhabits Calayan Island in the Philippines.

VulnerableLegendaryEndemicEats invertebratesforestscrape nest244 g

About the Calayan Rail

The Calayan rail is a flightless bird of the rail, moorhen, and coot family (Rallidae) that inhabits Calayan Island in the Philippines. Though well known to natives of the island as the "piding", it was first observed by ornithologist Carmela Española in May 2004 and the discovery was officially announced on August 16, 2004. It was formerly the only species placed in the genus Aptenorallus.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

The Calayan rail is a relatively large flightless rail. Its plumage is dark grayish overall, with a blacker face and slightly browner upperparts. The bill and legs are bright orange-red, unique among similar-sized dark-colored ground-dwelling birds on Calayan. Its vocalizations are loud, harsh, and nasal-sounding.

Where it lives

Philippines

When to see it

Best months: March, April, May, June, with peak activity in April. It is a variable species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Calayan Rail?: The Calayan rail is a relatively large flightless rail. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Calayan Rail?: The Calayan Rail is a medium sized bird weighing about 244 g.
Where can you see a Calayan Rail?: The Calayan Rail is endemic to the Philippines, which is the only country where it occurs.
What birds look similar to a Calayan Rail?: The Calayan Rail is most easily confused with the Roviana Rail, the Invisible Rail and the Pink-legged Rail.
Is the Calayan Rail endangered?: The Calayan Rail is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Calayan Rail for real

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