Guam Rail vs White Swamphen

Hypotaenidia owstoni compared with Porphyrio albus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Guam Rail White Swamphen
Scientific Name Hypotaenidia owstoni Porphyrio albus
Order Gruiformes Gruiformes
Family Rallidae Rallidae
Conservation Status Critically Endangered Extinct
Length
Wingspan 22.4 cm (8.8 in)
Weight 230.25 g (8.12 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 3-4 --
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Guam Rail only

None

White Swamphen only

Conservation Status

Critically Endangered

Guam Rail

Extinct

White Swamphen

About These Birds

Guam Rail

Guam Rail (Hypotaenidia owstoni), 28 cm. Brown above with barred flanks; blue-grey face; nearly flightless. Extinct in the wild on Guam by 1987 after the introduction of the brown treesnake; reintroduced to Rota Island. Omnivore. Critically Endangered (wild); captive-breeding program ongoing.

White Swamphen

White Swamphen (Porphyrio albus) is an extinct all-white swamphen formerly endemic to Lord Howe Island, Australia. Known from specimens collected around 1790 and early drawings; had reduced wings indicating flightlessness or near-flightlessness. Extirpated by hunting after European discovery. Related to Australasian Swamphen.

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