Andaman Crake

Identificazione

This is the largest Rallina, measuring about 34 cm in length. It has a glossy chestnut plumage, extensive bold barring on underparts, unbarred undertail-coverts, relatively bright apple-green bill and relatively long and fluffy tail; legs and feet are olive-green. It also has pale barring on wings confined to outer primaries and greater and medium coverts. Juveniles are duller and less prominently barred. Other similar looking crakes include other Rallina and ruddy-breasted crake Porzana fusca. They are smaller and do not have green bill and legs. Immature birds are duller overall with the barred areas being dark grey-brown with a chestnut tinge, narrowly banded and streaked dirty white. Juvenile birds are paler than adult. Voice is a deep croak. It utters a sharp click as an alarm call.

Tassonomia

It was first described as the Andaman banded crake Euryzona canningi by Blyth in the 1863 issue of the journal, Ibis. Later, it was treated as Andamaneese banded crake Rallina canningi by Baker in 1929. Subsequently, Ripley and Ali retained Baker's scientific name for the species, while reverting to Blyth's common name.

Nome scientifico

Rallina canningi

Autorità

(Blyth, 1863)

Ordine

Gruiformi

Famiglia

Rallidae

Genere

Rallina

Areale e habitat

Its natural habitat is marshland inside subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical mangrove forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is known from North, Middle and South Andaman islands and may occur on other islands such as Great Coco or middle Coco Islands. It was formerly classified as data deficient by the IUCN, due to the lack of reliable information on its status. Later studies showed it to be fairly common in suitable habitat. Consequently, it has been listed at least concern status in 2017. BirdLife International estimates the population to range between 10,000 and 25,000 individuals.

Migrazione

Specie stanziale

Comportamento

Comportamento migratorio: Specie stanziale.

Conservazione

Tendenza della popolazione: in diminuzione.

Tendenza della popolazione

in diminuzione