Lewin's Rail

1. Long, slender, slightly downcurved bill with reddish base

2. Chestnut crown and nape, slate-grey breast, and crisp black-and-white barring on flanks and belly

3. Dark brown, streaked upperparts with olive edging

Lewin’s Rails feed mainly on invertebrates such as earthworms, mollusks, crustaceans, and insects, and occasionally take small frogs or bird eggs. They forage by probing and pecking in soft mud or shallow water, often immersing their bill and forehead. These rails are mostly crepuscular and diurnal, active in low light and during the day, with only limited nocturnal activity. Nests are saucer-shaped and built in dense vegetation above the waterline, often with vegetation pulled over for cover. Breeding occurs mainly from August to March, with three to five eggs laid per clutch and both parents caring for the young. Lewin’s Rails rarely fly, preferring to retreat into cover when disturbed, and may create tunnels through dense vegetation for quick escape.

Lewin’s Rails inhabit dense wetlands with thick fringing or emergent vegetation, including swamps, marshes, creek edges, estuaries, and even artificial wetlands, provided dense cover is available. Their distribution is patchy across southeastern mainland Australia and Tasmania, with records from southern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. They are most active at dawn and dusk, typically staying hidden in thick cover but sometimes venturing to the edge of reeds or even climbing low vegetation to look around. Their presence is usually revealed by their loud, far-carrying “kek-kek-kek” call or low grunts.