Woodford's rail (Gallirallus woodfordi), also known as the Guadalcanal rail, is a species of flightless bird and large rail in the family Rallidae.
Taxonomy This species has been placed in various different genera, including Eulabeornis, Rallina, Rallus, Nesoclopeus, and Hypotaenidia.
There are three distinct subspecies, which may represent individual species:
G. w. tertius (Bougainville Island)
G. w. immaculatus (Santa Isabel Island)
G. w. woodfordi (Guadalcanal Island)
Description Woodford's rail is a large, robust, and flightless rail. It is about in length and weighs between . It is mostly a dark brown, gray, or black in coloration. It can run rapidly and uses its wings when trying to escape danger.
Distribution and habitat It is endemic to the Solomon Islands archipelago. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical swamps, rivers, freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, and rural gardens.
Behavior On Santa Isabel, it feeds on worms, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and snails, as well as plant material. The other populations are likely similar.
Its nest is made of plants and is about across. It lays clutches of two to six eggs, which are oval and creamy-buff with blotches and spots. These eggs measure about on Bougainville Island, and are reportedly long on Santa Isabel.
Status and conservation It is currently threatened by habitat loss and was the only surviving species of the genus Nesoclopeus. However, recent genetic evidence finds that the species is nested within Gallirallus, as sister taxon to the Guam rail.
References