Guam Rail

About the Guam Rail

Also known as: Owston's Rail

The Guam Rail is a flightless species of rail endemic to the United States Pacific territory of Guam. The species was extirpated from the island in the 1980s and was considered to be extinct in the wild for several decades. Following captive breeding programs and other successful conservation efforts, the species was reclassified as Critically Endangered in 2019.

The Guam Rail is a medium-sized rail, recognized by its brownish plumage and thin black and white breast bars. It has a distinctive white eye stripe. Males and females are similar in appearance, although males average larger.

Details & Statistics

Added to Birdorable

Hatched 2 February 2018

Scientific Name

Gallirallus owstoni

Order:

Gruiformes

Family:

Rallidae

Genus:

Gallirallus

Species:

G. owstoni

Bird Family

Rails, Cranes & Friends

Conservation Status

Critically Endangered (as of 22 November 2021)

Least Concern (LC)
Near Threatened (NT)
Vulnerable (VU)
Endangered (EN)
Critically Endangered (CR)
Extinct in the Wild (EW)
Extinct (EX)

Source: IUCN Red List

Measurements

Length:

11 inches

(27.9 cm)

Weight:

6 to 12 ounces

(170.1 to 340.2 grams)

Range

Oceania

Conservation

The Guam Rail is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and was last assessed in 2012 by BirdLife International. The last individual in the wild of this species died in 1987 following catastrophic declines owing to predation by the introduced brown tree-snake. A captive population survives in a snake-proof enclosure, and it breeds well in captivity. It remains classified as Extinct in the Wild until an introduced population becomes firmly established.