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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Rallidae
  4. ›
  5. Lewinia
  6. ›
  7. Lewin's Rail
Lewin's Rail
Photo · (c) Mark Clarke, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Lewin's Rail

Lewinia pectoralis(Temminck, 1831)

Updated 11 June 2026

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Native
Order
GRUIFORMES
Family
Rallidae
Genus
Lewinia

At a glance

The Lewin's Rail is a medium-sized bird, about 20–27 cm long, listed as Least Concern and native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
20–27 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Lewin's Rail look like?

The Lewin's Rail is a medium-sized bird, about 20–27 cm long and weighing 63–112 g.

Lewin's rail is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is also known as the water rail, Lewin's water rail, Lewin's grind rail, slate-breasted rail, slate-breasted water rail, pectoral rail, pectoral water rail, short-toed rail and short-toed water rail.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
20–27 cm
Weight
63–112 g
Wingspan
30 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Lewin's Rail?

The Lewin's 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

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

J N. · Victoria, AU

0s

Call

jimchurches · The Bicentennial National Trl, Dunlop, ACT, AU

0s

Call

jimchurches · Boorowa NSW 2586, Australia

0s

Call

jimchurches · Binda NSW 2583, Australia

0s

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Lewin's Rail eat?

The Lewin's Rail feeds on terrestrial invertebrates and fish/invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Lewin's Rail live in Australia?

The Lewin's Rail is native to Australia, recorded across 36 of Australia’s bioregions.

Breeding range
Central Lesser Sundas, New Guinea and east Australia