Chestnut Rail

1. Large, thickset rail with a relatively long, often-flicked tail

2. Rich chestnut underparts and a soft grey head and neck

3. Long, heavy yellowish bill and pale yellow-green legs

Chestnut Rails feed mainly on crabs and other crustaceans, but will also take mollusks, insects, and other small invertebrates found in mangrove mud or shallow water. They move slowly and deliberately, often probing into mud or crab burrows with their heavy bill, and frequently flick their tail as they walk. Their loud, honking calls are a distinctive feature of northern mangrove forests, especially at dawn and dusk. Breeding biology is largely unknown due to their elusive nature, but pairs are often seen together and are believed to maintain close bonds. Breeding season occurs either Sept.–Nov or Oct.–Jan.

Chestnut Rails inhabit the mangrove forests and tidal creeks of tropical northern Australia, from the Kimberley in Western Australia through the Northern Territory to northern Queensland, as well as the Aru Islands. They are highly specialized for life in dense mangroves, especially along seaward edges and tidal channels. These rails are most active at dawn and dusk but can be seen at any time, typically staying close to dense cover and rarely venturing into the open except at low tide when foraging along muddy edges.