The Laysan rail or Laysan crake is an extinct species flightless rail endemic to the Northwest Hawaiian Island of Laysan. This small island was and still is an important seabird colony, and sustained a number of endemic species, including the rail. It became extinct due to habitat loss by domestic rabbits, and the introduction of rats to Midway during the Second World War.
Region
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
Typical Environment
Historically confined to Laysan Island, it occupied dense coastal shrubs, bunchgrass stands, sand dunes, and the margins of the island’s hypersaline lake. It foraged extensively within seabird colonies, taking advantage of invertebrates associated with nesting birds and carrion. A small, human-assisted population persisted for a time on Midway Atoll before being wiped out by rats during the Second World War. The species was entirely terrestrial and avoided open, exposed areas when possible.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 15 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Laysan rail was a tiny, flightless rail restricted to Laysan Island in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. It became extinct after habitat devastation by introduced rabbits on Laysan and the later introduction of rats to Midway Atoll, where a translocated population briefly survived. Remarkably tame, it often foraged around seabird colonies and human camps for insects and scraps. Its loss is a classic example of island vulnerability to invasive species.
Illustration by John Gerrard Keulemans
Laysan rail feeding on a seabird's egg.
Breeding Laysan rail
Laysan rail eggs
Temperament
tame and inquisitive but wary in open spaces
Flight Pattern
flightless; prefers running with short fluttering hops
Social Behavior
Typically seen singly or in pairs, it nested on the ground in dense vegetation. Pairs likely formed monogamous bonds during the breeding season. Both parents are thought to have attended the brood, guiding chicks through cover while foraging near seabird colonies.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations were a mix of soft clucks and rapid ticking notes, with occasional rasping squeaks. Calls carried through shrub thickets and were used to maintain contact between mates and signal alarm.
Plumage
Upperparts rich brown with darker mottling and streaks; underparts paler with buff tones and barred flanks. Feathers appeared soft and close, aiding stealth in dense vegetation. Reduced, rounded wings and a short tail contributed to a compact look.
Diet
An opportunistic omnivore, it fed primarily on insects such as flies, beetles, and their larvae, which were abundant around seabird colonies and the lake margins. It also took small crustaceans and other invertebrates, pecked at carrion, and occasionally consumed eggs or scraps. Foraging involved quick dashes and probing among leaf litter and low shrubs.
Preferred Environment
Most feeding occurred in dense Scaevola (naupaka) thickets, bunchgrasses, and along the edges of the hypersaline lake where brine flies were plentiful. It frequently foraged among nesting seabirds, exploiting invertebrates drawn to guano and food remains.
