Lord Howe Island Woodhen
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creative commons
Fast Facts
-
- IUCN Conservation Status
- ENDANGERED (EN)
- NSW Conservation Status
- Endangered species
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Classification
- Genus
- Hypotaenidia
- Species
- sylvestris
- Family
- Rallidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Class
- Aves
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- Body size up to 42 cm
-
View Bio Regions
- Bio Regions
- Lord Howe Province
During the mid-1960’s the woodhen was one of the most endangered birds in the world, but with a successful breeding program and other conservation programs it has been brought back from the brink of extinction.
Identification
The Lord Howe Island Woodhen is a large, olive brown, flightless bird. Its beak curves downwards and its eyes are red. Males are larger than females.
Habitat
Found in a range of habitats from low-lying palm forests to mountain-top mist forests.
Distribution
It is found only on Lord Howe Island.
Feeding and diet
Its diet consists of a variety of insects, worms snails and other invertebrates found on the forest floor.
Breeding behaviours
Adult woodhens pair for life and are very territorial. The birds breed between spring and early summer and can produce up to 4 eggs in one clutch. They nest on the ground under thick vegetation or in petrel burrows. The population has now reached the islands carrying capacity and is stable at about 220 birds.
