Lewin's Rail Lewinia pectoralis Scientific name definitions

18–27cm; male 65–112 (88) g, female 63–111 (82) g, juvenile 42–78 (66) g; wingspan 31–35 cm. Female slightly smaller and has duller rufous head and hindneck with heavier black streaking. Differs in plumage from L. mirifica and L. muelleri in having noticeable streaks on head  and hindneck, prominently dark-streaked upperparts  and prominently barred upperwings. Distinguished from sym­patric Gallirallus species by smaller size, and by pattern of upperparts, upperwings and underparts; from sympatric Porzana species  by longer bill  , rufous crown and nape  , and pattern of upperparts and upperwings. Immature as adult. Juvenile has similar pattern to adult but much darker overall; lacks rufous on head and hindneck; barring on underparts less distinct and extends to upper breast; bill grey-black. Races separated on prominence of crown streaks, colour of crown, upperparts and breast, extent of white on throat, and on biometrics.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

In Australia most often occurs at freshwater to saline wetlands, either permanent or ephemeral and usually with standing water: swamps, marshes, inundations, creeks, lakes, pools, farm dams, marshy streams, salt-marshes and estuaries. Requires dense fringing or emergent cover of long or tussocky grass, reeds, rushes, sedges or bracken; occasionally in thickets of wetland shrubs; sometimes uses wetlands in rain forest, woodland, riverine forest or wet heathland. Occasionally occurs away from water in parks, gardens, pasture, hay fields, lucerne, tangles of bramble or Lantana, and even in dry grass and ferns under canopy of scrub. In New Guinea occurs in medium-height, dense, dry upland grassland at 1040–2600 m, as well as in thick cover near water.

Largely earthworms, molluscs and arthropods, especially insects and crustaceans; occasionally frogs and eggs of birds; takes some vegetable matter; captive birds also ate meat. Crepuscular and diurnal; forages on dry ground, dry peat, soft soil and mud, and often in shallow water (less than 5 cm deep) at wetland edges, small pools and channels; usually forages within, or close to, dense vegetation, emerging from cover only briefly. Occasionally feeds on garden lawns and in short pasture. Pecks and probes; often immerses head in water; probe rate 1 per second; drills vigorously with long bill; foraging bouts interrupted by sudden dashes into cover, especially with large prey items.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Race exsul known only from a few specimens from S & W Flores and last recorded in 1959. Race clelandi of SW Australia known from four specimens collected at 2–3 localities; has not been seen since 1932, despite being regarded as reasonably common at that time; it is probably extinct as result of draining, burning, grazing and trampling of its wetland habitats. Races pectoralis and brachipus widespread and uncommon to common throughout their ranges, with no recent declines noted; birds are able to occupy disturbed and artificially created habitats, and to occur close to human habitation and even in industrial areas. In New Guinea, race captus may be fairly common but other races may be uncommon to rare.