List of Birds of The Solomon Islands - Rails, Crakes, Gallinules, and Coots

Rails, Crakes, Gallinules, and Coots

Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs, and have long toes which are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and be weak fliers. There are 143 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in the Solomon Islands.

• Woodford's Rail Nesoclopeus woodfordi (E)
• Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis
• Roviana Rail Gallirallus rovianae (E)
• Plain Bush-hen Amaurornis olivaceus
• Rufous-tailed Bush-hen Amaurornis moluccanus
• Spotless Crake Porzana tabuensis
• White-browed Crake Porzana cinerea
• Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
• San Cristobal Moorhen Gallinula silvestris (E)