Dieffenbach's Rail vs African Rail

Hypotaenidia dieffenbachii compared with Rallus caerulescens

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Dieffenbach's Rail African Rail
Scientific Name Hypotaenidia dieffenbachii Rallus caerulescens
Order Gruiformes Gruiformes
Family Rallidae Rallidae
Conservation Status Extinct Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan — 23.8 cm (9.4 in)
Weight 274.6 g (9.69 oz) 160.25 g (5.65 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size -- 2-6
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Dieffenbach's Rail only

African Rail only

Conservation Status

Extinct

Dieffenbach's Rail

Least Concern

African Rail

About These Birds

Dieffenbach's Rail

Dieffenbach's Rail (Hypotaenidia dieffenbachii). Extinct. Flightless; brown with barred underparts; endemic to the Chatham Islands, New Zealand. Hunted to extinction by Polynesian and European settlers by approximately 1840. Known from a few museum specimens collected in 1839–40.

African Rail

African Rail (Rallus caerulescens), 28 cm. Brown above with dark streaks; blue-grey underparts; barred white flanks; red bill and legs. Found in freshwater reedbeds and swamp margins across sub-Saharan Africa. Omnivore. Least Concern; common in wetland habitat.

More Birds to Explore