Fun Calayan Rail Facts For Kids
Gallery
The Calayan rail, with the scientific name Gallirallus calayanensis, is an endemic and flightless bird, with its range limited to the Calayan Island in the Philippines. This bird species belongs to the genus Gallirallus, the members of which are found in the Australasian and Pacific regions.
The Calayan rail is a compact bird, with mostly dull plumage. However, it has quite a bright orange-red bill and legs, which makes it stand out.
It is known to forage on the ground and feed on small invertebrates like snails and beetles. The calls given out by these birds sound very harsh and loud.
The habitat of these birds consists of primary and secondary forests. They are known to inhabit areas where the human population is low. Being limited to such a small region, the number of Calayan rails in the wild is quite low.
Additionally, their population is further endangered by ecological stresses. More research is necessary to maintain a viable presence of this species in the wild.
To learn more about the Calayan rail, keep reading! You can also check out facts about the Laysan rail and the Guam rail.
Calayan Rail Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a Calayan rail?
The Calayan rail (Gallirallus calayanensis ) is a variety of flightless bird, with a very small population distribution and geographical range.
What class of animal does a Calayan rail belong to?
The Calayan rail belongs to the class Aves. It is a member of the order Gruiformes, family Rallidae, and genus Gallirallus. The family Rallidae consists of crakes, gallinules, and coots.
How many Calayan rails are there in the world?
The population of the Calayan rails is has been assessed to be relatively stable by the International Union For Conservation Of Nature or IUCN and it is estimated to be between 2500-4300 mature birds. These birds occupy an area covering a distance of 34.8 sq. mi (90.2 sq. km).
Where does a Calayan rail live?
The Calayan rail (Gallirallus calayanensis ) bird is endemic to the Calayan Island in the Philippines. This island is a part of the Babuyan Island Group, which is located in the northern Philippines region. Being a sedentary species, the distribution and range of this bird are limited to the Calayan Island, only.
What is a Calayan rail's habitat?
The habitat of this Calayan rail species is characterized by forests. This bird inhabits the primary and secondary forests situated on the range of coralline limestones on Calayan Island. They have also been observed in degraded forests where low trees are present. It would also appear that these birds prefer to inhabit areas near streams.
Who do Calayan rails live with?
These birds are either seen singly or in small groups.
How long does a Calayan rail live?
The lifespan of the Calayan rail has not been recorded. However, another rail bird, belonging to the same order Gruiformes, family Rallidae, and the genus Rallus, known as the light-footed clapper rail, has a lifespan of two to four years in the wild. So, a similar life expectancy can be presumed in the Calayan rail species.
How do they reproduce?
Information regarding mating rituals and breeding patterns is yet to be established for this species. However, females are known to lay three eggs in their nests which are made on the ground. The nests are made using plant materials. The eggs have distinct markings and measure around 1.3 x 0.9 in (3.5 x 2.5 cm).
What is their conservation status?
The conservation status of this species of rails is marked as Vulnerable by the International Union For Conservation Of Nature or IUCN. The population of these birds is endangered due to the degradation of their natural habitat.
Other factors which can negatively affect the number of Calayan rails in the wild are hunting, conversion of their natural habitat into places of commercial value, and wood harvesting.
Calayan Rail Fun Facts
What do Calayan rails look like?
The red Calayan rail (Gallirallus calayanensis) is a compact and flightless bird with dark plumage. Its feathers appear dark olive in color, while the head and throat regions are blackish. The rump feathers are olive-brown toned, with blackish remiges or flight feathers.
This bird has orange-brown or dark brown irises, with a dull orange ring around the orbital region. The bill is orange-red in appearance and quite long and deep-based.
The legs and feet also appear to be orange-red. In this species, sexual dimorphism is not observed, meaning both male and female birds look alike. Additionally, juvenile birds also resemble adults, except they bear some white spots.
*We've been unable to source an image of Calayan rail and have used an image of king rail instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of Calayan rail, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at hello@kidadl.comHow cute are they?
The Calayan rail is definitely a cute bird species, even more so due to its bright red bill and rarity in the wild.
How do they communicate?
The communication in this bird takes place through different calls. Its vocalization sounds loud and hoarse and has repetitions of 'ngeck' notes, which are uttered seven times a second. This call has been observed being given by individuals as well as small family groups. A 'skeet' vocalization has also been recorded, when this bird rushed for cover.
How big is a Calayan rail?
The length of a Calayan rail bird is usually around 11.8 in (30 cm). The wingspan in this species is between 5.9-6 in (15.1-15.4 cm). In comparison to the king rail, which measured between 15-19 in (38.1-48.2 cm), the Calayan rail is much smaller in size.
How fast can a Calayan rail fly?
The Calayan rail (Gallirallus calayanensis) is a flightless bird, so it is unable to fly. However, this bird has been observed to run off quickly if it feels threatened.
How much does a Calayan rail weigh?
The weight of a Calayan rail is around 8.6 oz (244 g). They are heavier than the Virginia rail, belonging to the same family Rallidae, which weighs between 2.3-3.3 oz (65-95 g).
What are the male and female names of the species?
Male and female birds of this species are known as male Calayan rail birds and female Calayan rail birds, respectively.
What would you call a baby Calayan rail?
A baby Calyan rail bird is known as a chick.
What do they eat?
Calayan rail birds are carnivorous, as snails, millipedes, and beetles have been found in their diet. They are known to forage on the ground, where they use their orange-red bill to overturn leaves.
Are they dangerous?
There are no instances to suggest the Calayan rail (Gallirallus calayanensis) is dangerous. In fact, when these birds were approached by biologists, some ran away giving an alarm call. However, in some cases, the birds were not as shy and were tolerant of being approached.
Would they make a good pet?
Given the extremely small distribution range of this species and its small population, it would be best to let these birds stay in their natural habitat.
Did you know...
The red Calayan rail species was first observed by Carmela Española, an ornithologist, in the year 2004. After their discovery was made, a formal description of this species appeared in a journal titled 'Forktail (Allen et al. 2004)'.
How many eggs does a Calayan rail lay?
Not a lot is known about the reproductive patterns of this bird. However, from the information that has been gathered, the nesting season is believed to take place in June.
Their nests are built on the ground with the use of plant materials like dry stems and leaves. These birds lay three eggs, which are pale pink in color, with patches of deep lilac and reddish-brown tones.
How to spot Calayan rail birds?
The plumage patterns of the Calayan rail (Gallirallus calayanensis) will certainly make it easier for anyone to spot this bird in the wild. The bodies of these birds are quite compact and dark olive in color with blackish heads and throats.
In contrast to the blackish head and throat, the chin is white in color.
Some other identifying features are pale covert feathers in the underwings with creamy-toned tips, blackish remiges, and orange-red legs, feet, and bill. In the case of the juvenile birds, they are nearly uniform in coloration but with some having whitish ear spots.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds with our Guam kingfisher fun facts and Eurasian moorhen surprising facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable bird coloring pages.
Main image by Greg Hume.
Second image by MPF.
*We've been unable to source an image of Calayan rail and have used an image of Guam rail instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of Calayan rail, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at hello@kidadl.com
We Want Your Photos!
More for You
See All
Bachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art
Georgia StoneBachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art
Georgia is an experienced Content Manager with a degree in French and Film Studies from King's College London and Bachelors degree from Université Paris-Sorbonne. Her passion for exploring the world and experiencing different cultures was sparked during her childhood in Switzerland and her year abroad in Paris. In her spare time, Georgia enjoys using London's excellent travel connections to explore further afield.
Disclaimer
1) Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the Buy Now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published but we cannot guarantee that on the time of reading. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
2) At Kidadl, we strive to recommend the very best activities and events. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
3) Because we are an educational resource, we have quotes and facts about a range of historical and modern figures. We do not endorse the actions of or rhetoric of all the people included in these collections, but we think they are important for growing minds to learn about under the guidance of parents or guardians.
