Aztec Rail

A large, slender warbler with a disproportionately long bill, short wings, and a long tail. Face and eyebrow yellowish-buff with a dark eye-stripe and a pale throat. Upper body and wings mostly dark with pale edges to feathers, giving a messy mottled appearance. Some birds are much paler, often almost entirely white with some mottling. An entirely dark sooty morph occurs. Found in riverine and hillside forest with stands of bamboo up to 600 meters of elevation. Song is a long, slow sequence of warbled phrases and “churr” notes. Calls include harsh churring and “tchak” notes.

The largest living rail in the world, endemic to New Zealand. Considered extinct until it was famously rediscovered in the Murchison Mountains in 1948. The wild population remains in the Murchison Mountains; the species has been translocated to predator-free offshore islands and mainland sanctuaries, and recently reintroduced to northwest Kahurangi National Park. Note distinct iridescent plumage, white undertail, and huge bright red conical bill that extends onto the forehead. Often heard giving a quiet hooting contact call, or a muted boom. Australasian Swamphen (Pukeko) can look similar, but Takahe are much larger, can’t fly, and have no black on wings or back.

Rare and shy thrush which breeds in stunted spruce forests on mountaintops in remote areas of the Maritime Northeast. Infrequently seen during migration and tends to be more secretive than other thrushes, sticking to denser thickets within forests. Brown above with spotted breast and very faint eyering. Small bill with yellow base. Shows a reddish wash on tail and wings, duller than Hermit Thrush, but difficult to judge without excellent view. Nearly identical to Gray-cheeked Thrush, which lacks reddish wash. Voice very similar to Gray-cheeked. Song is a stuttering series of phrases with a notably wiry tone, overall descending but usually with rising final note. Call a high-pitched, piercing "pzeeer". Both song and call overlap completely with Gray-cheeked. No breeding range overlap with other thrushes, but most birds best left unidentified during migration.