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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Rallidae
  4. ›
  5. Eulabeornis
  6. ›
  7. Chestnut Rail
Chestnut Rail
Photo · (c) Genevieve Early, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Chestnut Rail

Eulabeornis castaneoventrisGould, 1844

Updated 21 March 2026

Origin: Native
Order
GRUIFORMES
Family
Rallidae
Genus
Eulabeornis

At a glance

The Chestnut Rail is a large bird, about 44–52 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
44–52 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Chestnut Rail look like?

The Chestnut Rail is a large bird, about 44–52 cm long and weighing 550–910 g.

The chestnut rail is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is found in the Aru Islands and northern Australia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical mangrove forests. It was formerly the only species placed in the genus Eulabeornis.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
44–52 cm
Weight
550–910 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Chestnut Rail?

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

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Chestnut Rail eat?

The Chestnut Rail feeds on intertidal invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

4 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Chestnut Rail live in Australia?

The Chestnut Rail is native to Australia, recorded across 11 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingAru Is. (south-west of New Guinea) and coastal north Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Vagrant
  • Passage
  • Resident

6 regions recorded