Habitat
Subtropical and tropical lowland rainforest, with a preference for forested river valleys, secondary growth, swamp forest, inland wetlands and adandoned gardens.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 10,000 - 19,999 (2010) and decreasing.
Status NT
Habitat destruction and degradation through logging, predation by cats and dogs, are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Habits
Flightless.
Voice
An unmusical series of three metallic shrieks unvarying in pitch. Also a series of 'kik-kik' notes, a single 'ki' note and an explosive, squaeled 'ngowh'.
Woodford's Rail (Hypotaenidia woodfordi) [XC289393]
by Frank Lambert from Isabel Island - 500m sw of Tiratonga village, Solomon Islands (call, contact calls)
Woodford's Rail (Hypotaenidia woodfordi) [XC290247]
by id from Isabel Island - 500m sw of Tiratonga village, Solomon Islands (song)
Subspecies
Forms superspecies with Bar-winged Rail (Hypotaenidia poeciloptera), with which it may be conspecific.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
tertius Mayr, 1949 - Bougainville I.
immaculatus Mayr, 1949 - Santa Isabel I.
woodfordi (Ogilvie-Grant, 1889) - Guadalcanal I.
Similar Species
Juvenile Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) which are uniform black with stubby bills, Bush-hen (Amaurornis olivacea) which has olive upperparts, buffy-rufous undertail and yellow-green bill and legs.
References
See References.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet