About Gallirallus philippensis (Linnaeus, 1766)
This species, commonly known as the buff-banded rail, is a largely terrestrial bird that is about the size of a small domestic chicken. It has mainly brown upperparts, finely banded black and white underparts, a white eyebrow, a chestnut band that runs from the bill around the nape, and a buff band on the breast. It uses a variety of moist or wetland habitats with low, dense vegetation for cover. It is usually quite shy, but can become very tame and bold in some circumstances, such as at island resorts in the Great Barrier Reef region. The buff-banded rail is an omnivorous scavenger. It feeds on a range of terrestrial invertebrates and small vertebrates, seeds, fallen fruit and other vegetable matter, as well as carrion and refuse. Its nest is usually placed in dense grassy or reedy vegetation near water, and its clutch size is 3 to 4 eggs. While some island populations may be threatened or even wiped out by introduced predators, the species as a whole appears secure, and its conservation status is rated Least Concern.
