Lewin's rail is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is also known as the water rail, Lewin's water rail, Lewin's grind rail, slate-breasted rail, slate-breasted water rail, pectoral rail, pectoral water rail, short-toed rail and short-toed water rail.
Region
Australasia
Typical Environment
Found in eastern and southeastern Australia, including Tasmania, and also occurs in parts of New Guinea. It inhabits dense, swampy vegetation such as reedbeds, rushes, sedgelands, saltmarsh, wet heath, and mangrove fringes. Birds typically remain under cover along the margins of shallow water, creeks, and lagoons, rarely venturing into open areas. In tidal areas they may forage on exposed mud under mangroves at low tide. Local movements follow water availability and vegetation condition.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Lewin's rail is a shy, elusive rail that prefers dense wetland cover and is far more often heard than seen. It slips through reeds and sedges with remarkable agility, using narrow body and long toes to navigate soft substrates. Habitat loss and degradation of wetlands are key threats, and local populations can be sensitive to disturbance and predation by introduced mammals. Its calls are a reliable way to detect it during surveys.
Temperament
solitary and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, brief flights
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs, maintaining territories within dense wetland vegetation. Breeding pairs build well-concealed, often domed nests low in reeds or sedges, with a woven platform and sometimes a ramp. Clutch size is moderate and both parents incubate and care for precocial, black-downy chicks. Outside breeding, it remains largely solitary and keeps close to cover.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include sharp squeals, grunts, and repeated kek-kek or ki-ik notes, often delivered at dusk or night. Calls can be loud and pig-like, carrying through reedbeds. Soft contact calls are given when birds move through cover.
Plumage
Slate-grey face, throat, and breast with rich rufous to chestnut nape and brown upperparts finely streaked and mottled. Flanks boldly barred black and white; belly darker with white barring. Under-tail often shows contrasting whitish or pale barring. Overall appearance is dark, compact, and heavily patterned, aiding concealment in reeds.
Diet
Feeds on a mix of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates such as insects, beetles, spiders, snails, and small crustaceans. Will also take small amphibians, worms, and occasionally small fish or carrion. Seeds and soft plant material are consumed opportunistically, making the diet largely omnivorous. Foraging involves probing mud, gleaning from vegetation, and picking prey from shallow water edges.
Preferred Environment
Typically forages along the sheltered margins of wetlands, within reedbeds, sedgelands, saltmarsh, and mangroves. Uses dense cover to remain concealed, emerging briefly to feed on exposed mud or shallow edges, especially at low tide in coastal sites.
