Banded rail

Keeps to mangrove and saltmarsh edges at low tide.

Scarce on Kawau and rarely seen.

Story

Drained wetlands and introduced predators have cut numbers since the 1970s. About 80–90% of New Zealand's banded rails now live around upper North Island estuaries. Spreading mangroves in Auckland have probably helped them.

Behaviour

Shy and secretive. They seldom stray more than 6 m from cover and feed under mangroves at low tide on crabs, snails, insects and worms. They can fly, but mostly travel at night.