taxonomic index

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images of australian wildlife

Rallidae

crakes, rails and allies

Lewin’s Rail

Kingston, Tas

Lewin’s Rail

Kingston, Tas

Lewin’s Rails

Kingston, Tas

Buff-banded Rails

Julatten, Qld

Australian Spotted Crake

North Gardens, Vic

Australian Spotted Crake

Fairyland, Vic

Australian Spotted Crake

Fairyland, Vic

Baillon’s Crake

North Gardens, Vic

Baillon’s Crake

Mungerannie, SA

White-breasted Waterhen

Tissamaharama, Sri Lanka

White-browed Crake

Giru, Qld

Purple Swamphen

Wendouree Gardens, Vic

Purple Swamphen

Fairyland, Vic

Purple Swamphen

Hasties Swamp, Qld

Grey-headed Swamphen

Tissamaharama, Sri Lanka

Grey-headed Swamphen

Tissamaharama, Sri Lanka

Dusky Moorhen

Wendouree Gardens, Vic

Dusky Moorhen

Waterlilly Lagoon, Vic

Dusky Moorhen

Benalla, Vic

Jewellery

Fairyland, Vic

Dusky Moorhen

Fairyland, Vic

Dusky Moorhen

Durham Point, Vic

Black-tailed Native-hen

North Gardens, Vic

Black-tailed Native-hen

Bowra Station, Qld

Black-tailed Native-hen

Bowra Station, Qld

Run!

Ranelagh, Tas

Fatherhood

Ranelagh, Tas

Tail feathers

Ranelagh, Tas

Windy day

Ranelagh, Tas

Tasmanian Native-hens

Latrobe, Tas

Tasmanian Native-hen

Ranelagh, Tas

Tasmanian Native-hen

Waterworks Reserve, Tas

Tasmanian Native-hen

The nest must grow, Tas

Tasmanian Native-hen

Latrobe, Tas

Rest

Ranelagh, Tas

Tasmanian Native-hen

Ranelagh, Tas

Tasmanian Native-hen

Cygnet, Tas

Family fun

Ranelagh, Tas

The nest must grow

Ranelagh, Tas

Tasmanian Native-hen

Ranelagh, Tas

Swimming

Ranelagh, Tas

Feeding

Ranelagh, Tas

Clover

Ranelagh, Tas

Hurtle by water

Ranelagh, Tas

Tasmanian Native-hen

Ranelagh, Tas

Tasmanian Native-hen

Lunawanna, Tas

Putting your best foot forward

Ranelagh, Tas

Defending the nestlings

Ranelagh, Tas

Hurtle by water

Ranelagh, Tas

Eurasian Coot

Gunning, NSW

Eurasian Coot

Wendouree Gardens, Vic

Standing room only

Wendouree Gardens, Vic

Eurasian Coot

Fairyland, Vic

Eurasian Coot

Waterlilly Lagoon, Vic

Eurasian Coot

Durham Point, Vic

Order Gruiformes

crakes, rails, and cranes

Gruiformes ...

crakes, rails, and cranes

Although named for the Gruidae (cranes), a small 15 species family of very large birds, most Gruiformes belong to the Rallidae (crakes and rails), a large family of mostly medium-sized waterbirds with nearly 150 members. Australia has two crane species; Sri Lanka none. There are 14 rallidae species in Australia (15 if you count the White-breasted Waterhens which have recently self-introduced to Christmas Island) and 9 in Sri Lanka. Two species are shared; the Eurasian Coot (uncommon in Sri Lanka, ubiquitous in Australia) and Bailon’s Crake, or three species counting the White-breasted Waterhen. As is often the case, there are several ’near misses’ - species which are very similar and familiar, and yet delightfully different. The crakes are (as always!) very crake-like; the Common Moorhen is very like the familiar Dusky, and the Grey-headed Swamphen is very different to the much larger, thicker-set, and darker Australiasian Swamphen. It is extraordinary to think that these two were regarded as part of the same species until recently.