Red-necked Crake Rallina tricolor Scientific name definitions

23–30 cm; male 143–231 (164) g, 2 females 194, 200 g, 2 probable migrants 109, 115 g; wingspan 37–45 cm. Dis­tinguished from sympatric forest rails by combination of large size  , unmarked dark brown upperparts  and tail, green or yellow bill and olive legs; paler fine barring on dark brown underparts varies from indistinct to virtually absent; white bars on remiges usually hidden, except when bird runs to cover with partly spread wings. Sexes alike. Immature not described. Juvenile uniform dark olive brown above and dark brown below.

New Guinea and offshore islands, Tayandu Is (Kur), Aru Is, Bismarck Archipelago, and NE Australia (N & E Queensland); also spottily in S Moluccas and E Lesser Sundas, where status unclear.

Mainly invertebrates, including annelids, oligochaetes, molluscs, crustaceans, terrestrial amphipods, spiders, and adult and larval insects; also frogs and tadpoles; seeds, including beans, also recorded. Mainly crepuscular and nocturnal, but sometimes seen during day. Forages methodically, along shallow stream beds and stream margins, in leaf litter and occasionally along edge of salt water at low tide; rakes through leaf litter with feet and bill; turns over small stones with bill; probes pools, moss and debris.

In Queensland lays throughout wet season, Nov–Mar, with Dec–Feb peak; in Papua New Guinea lays early in rains, Nov. Monogamous, with strong pair-bond; some pairs maintain permanent territories; one record of 3 birds attending 2 nests. Nest a shallow cup of dead leaves, twigs and tendrils, diameter 15–20 cm, in dense vegetation or bush or on tree stump 0·6–2 m above ground; or a depression in ground lined with few dead leaves. Usually 5 eggs (3–7), laid at daily intervals; incubation  18–22 days, by both sexes; black downy chicks have black bill and grey to brown (later black) legs and feet; chicks fed by both parents; leave nest soon after hatching but may return to roost for several days; still fed by adults at 5 weeks; leave parents before they can fly; fully-feathered at 4–6 weeks. May form pairs when 4–5 months old.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Little information available on status because birds are typically shy and seldom seen. In Papua New Guinea apparently locally common. Australian population declining due to massive and continuing loss of lowland rain forest habitat for agriculture and residential development. Able to occupy dense vegetation in some suburban gardens. Little information on status elsewhere.