Wake Island Rail vs White Swamphen
Hypotaenidia wakensis compared with Porphyrio albus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Wake Island Rail | White Swamphen |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hypotaenidia wakensis | Porphyrio albus |
| Order | Gruiformes | Gruiformes |
| Family | Rallidae | Rallidae |
| Conservation Status | Extinct | Extinct |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | — |
| Weight | 106.1 g (3.74 oz) | — |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Extinct
Wake Island Rail
Extinct
White Swamphen
About These Birds
Wake Island Rail
Wake Island Rail (Hypotaenidia wakensis). Extinct. Flightless; brown with barred underparts; endemic to Wake Island (US territory), central Pacific. Last individuals eaten by stranded Japanese soldiers in 1945 during World War II. Omnivore. Extinction documented by soldiers' own accounts.
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.