Buff-banded Rail

Hypotaenidia philippensis(Linnaeus, 1766)

Updated 21 March 2026

Also known asKoor-re-re

Least ConcernNative

Order: GRUIFORMES
Family: Rallidae
Genus: Hypotaenidia

At a glance

The Buff-banded Rail is a medium-sized bird, about 30–33 cm long, listed as Least Concern and native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size: 30–33 cm
Conservation status: Least Concern
Origin: Native
Best seen: Year-round
Commonness: Very common

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Buff-banded Rail look like?

The Buff-banded Rail is a medium-sized bird, about 30–33 cm long and weighing 115–290 g, identified by its broad buff-orange breast band, finely barred black-and-white belly & flanks, rich chestnut eyestripe & nape and bold white supercilium.

The buff-banded rail is a distinctively coloured, highly dispersive, medium-sized rail of the rail family, Rallidae. This species comprises several subspecies found throughout much of Australasia and the south-west Pacific region, including the Philippines, New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, and numerous smaller islands, covering a range of latitudes from the tropics to the subantarctic. The species was formerly placed in the genus Hypotaenidia.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

01
Broad buff-orange breast band
A prominent, diagnostic band across the upper breast.
02
Finely barred black-and-white belly & flanks
Dense, zebra-like barring covers the belly and flanks, contrasting with the breast band.
03
Rich chestnut eyestripe & nape
A broad chestnut stripe runs through the eye, widening to cover the nape.
04
Bold white supercilium
A prominent white stripe above the eye, contrasting with the dark crown and eyestripe.

Field specs

Length: 30–33 cm
Weight: 115–290 g
Wingspan: 45 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

Field tips

behaviour

Watch for its habit of nervously flicking its tail upward to flash white undertail coverts; it is a shy bird that prefers to dart away on foot rather than take flight.

flight

If flushed, it flies weakly for a short distance with rapid, fluttering wingbeats and long legs dangling awkwardly behind.

plumage

Look for a bold facial pattern with a striking white eyebrow and chestnut eye-stripe, paired with a diagnostic buff-orange band across its black-and-white barred chest.

size_and_shape

Notice its plump, small-chicken-like silhouette, characterized by a very short tail and a slightly down-curved, pinkish-brown bill.

voice

Listen for a sharp, repetitive 'swit-swit' or a dry, creaky 'krek' call that sounds similar to a rusty hinge.

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Buff-banded Rail?

The Buff-banded Rail is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Buff-banded Rail eat?

The Buff-banded Rail feeds on terrestrial invertebrates, intertidal invertebrates and fish/invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

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