About Gallirallus sylvestris (P.L.Sclater, 1870)
The Lord Howe woodhen is a medium-sized olive-brown rail. It has a short tail, a downcurved bill, a red iris, and chestnut wings. Historically, this species has been reclassified between the genera Gallirallus and Hypotaenidia. Currently, both the International Ornithological Congress (IOC) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) place the species in the genus Hypotaenidia. This species inhabits sub-tropical forests. Its diet consists of earthworms, crustaceans, and fruit, and it will occasionally take the eggs of shearwaters and petrels. Lord Howe woodhens mate for life, and are most often found in pairs. They are territorial, and will emerge from the forest understory to investigate any source of unusual noise. A mated pair defends a territory of approximately three hectares, and fully grown offspring are expelled from this territory once they reach maturity.
