Auckland rail

The Auckland rail, also known as the Auckland Island rail or Auckland Islands rail is a small nearly flightless rail endemic to the Auckland Islands 460 km south of New Zealand. It is somewhat of a biogeographical anomaly, being the only species in the genus Lewinia to have reached the islands of New Zealand, skipping over the main islands to reach the remote Auckland islands group. Its closest relative is Lewin's rail of Australia. The species is currently restricted to two islands in the Auckland islands group, Adams Island and Disappointment Island.

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Distribution

Region

New Zealand Subantarctic Islands

Typical Environment

Restricted to Adams Island and Disappointment Island within the Auckland Islands group. It occupies dense tussock grasslands, megaherb fields, sedgelands, and low scrub, favoring thick ground cover for concealment. Birds also use damp gullies, fern thickets, and coastal margins with drift lines rich in invertebrates. The species avoids open terrain, moving along runways in vegetation and using cover for nesting and foraging.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 700 m

Climate Zone

Temperate

Characteristics

Size18–22 cm

Wing Span28–34 cm

Male Weight0.09 kg

Female Weight0.08 kg

Life Expectancy5 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The Auckland rail is a near-flightless rail confined to the predator-free Adams and Disappointment Islands of the Auckland Islands group, south of New Zealand. It likely colonized from Australia, with its closest relative being Lewin's rail. It is extremely secretive, keeping to dense vegetation and rarely flying, instead running swiftly through cover. Its survival hinges on the continued absence of introduced predators on its remaining islands.

Gallery

Auckland rail chick, taken with trail camera on Adams Island in 2024.

Behaviour

Temperament

secretive and wary

Flight Pattern

reluctant flier; short, low bursts when flushed

Social Behavior

Typically seen singly or in pairs, forming territorial breeding pairs in dense vegetation. Nests are concealed on the ground under thick cover, with both adults likely involved in incubation and chick care. Clutches are small and the young are precocial, following adults soon after hatching.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Vocalizations include soft squeaks, grunts, and repeated piping notes, often delivered from cover. Calling peaks at dusk and dawn and serves to maintain contact between mates and advertise territories.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Auckland shag

The Auckland shag or Auckland Islands shag is a species of cormorant from New Zealand. The species is endemic to the Auckland Islands archipelago. It is a sedentary bird that primarily eats various crustaceans and fish. In recent years, roughly 1,000 pairs have been recorded. The Auckland shag is a colonial nester, building sizeable nests of, among other items, grass, twigs and seaweed. The Auckland shag lays three pale blue-green eggs in November–February. The incubation period is 26–32 days.

Auckland teal

The Auckland teal, also known as Auckland Islands teal, is a species of dabbling duck of the genus Anas that is endemic to Auckland Islands south of New Zealand. The species was once found throughout the Auckland Islands, but is now restricted to the islands that lack introduced predators: Adams Island, Enderby Island, Disappointment Island and a few smaller islands. An old report of "the same flightless duck" on North East Island, The Snares group most likely refers to a straggler.

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Augur buzzard

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