Isabelline Bush-hen
Amaurornis isabellina
A large, long-legged rail with rich chestnut underparts, duller brown upperparts, a greenish bill, and greenish-yellow legs. Typically encountered in pairs or small groups within dense, rank grassland or thick scrub, in the lowlands and lower hills on Sulawesi. In its limited range, most likely to be confused with female Watercock, but the bush-hen lacks any markings on the upperside and has brighter, chestnut-colored underparts. Noisy, giving harsh “tak-tak-tak-tak” calls in addition to rasping “groOw-groOw-groOw…”.
Identification
The isabelline bush-hen (Amaurornis isabellina), also known as Sulawesi waterhen or isabelline waterhen, is a large, up to 40 cm long, rufous and brown rail. The term isabelline refers to the colouration. It is the largest member of the genus Amaurornis. Both sexes are similar with olive brown plumage, pale green bill, greenish brown legs and rufous below. An Indonesian endemic, the isabelline waterhen is confined to grasslands near waters and lowlands of Sulawesi. The call is a loud "tak-tak-tak-tak". Widespread throughout its natural habitat, the isabelline waterhen is evaluated as least concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Taxonomy
Genus: Amaurornis; Family: Rallidae; Order: Gruiformes.
- Scientific name
- Amaurornis isabellina
- Authority
- (Schlegel, 1865)
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Family
- Rallidae
- Genus
- Amaurornis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
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