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Buff-banded RailAlternative names: "Banded Landrail", "Buff-banded Landrail", "Landrail", "Painted Rail", "Pectoral Rail", "Corn-crake" Size: 28-32 cm |
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Habitat |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
Race "mellori", which is endemic to Australia, is found mostly along the eastern seaboard (including part of the Great Dividing Range), further along the south coast to about Adelaide, and on the south-western tip of WA. After substantial rainfall they can disperse into the inland, out to a line from about Townsville to Bourke, excluding the north-western tip of NSW, and continuing from Bourke to the base of the Eyre peninsula. In the west they can disperse along the WA coastal fringe and also populate most of the tropical north. Race "tounelieri" is found on the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea.
Buff-banded Rails live in dense veetation around both fresh and sea water, e.g. lakes, rivers and estuaries. They are also found on offshore islands.
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Sightings |
In January 2012 a single bird came visiting our dam and garden, 20 km east of Narrabri, NSW.
A single bird was spotted by us at Narrabri Lake in September 2011.
J. Faris reports infrequent sightings of Buff-banded Rails, especially during times of high water levels of the Namoi River and its tributaries, on the western fringe of the Narrabri township and 20 km west of Narrabri, NSW.
A Buff-banded Rail was seen by C. Kellenberg on Lord Howe Island in July 2010.
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Photos |
Lateral view of a Buff-banded Rail; photo courtesy of C.
Kellenberg
Lateral view of a rare visitor in one of our garden beds
Partly obscured lateral view of a bird in dense reeds
Dorsal view of the same bird as shown above, now retreating into the reeds
