Bird
White-throated Rail
Dryolimnas cuvieriAlso known as Cuvier's Rail
White-throated rails forage boldly across forest litter and coastal scrub, flicking aside leaves in search of small invertebrates. Populations on Madagascar retain full flight capabilities, while the isolated Aldabra atoll population represents the last surviving flightless bird of the western Indian Ocean. Both sexes maintain territories with loud, metallic clinking calls and explosive descending trills.
Ground-dwellingIsland NativeOmnivore
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyTerrestrial mollusks, Insects, Small crabs
Predators
- Feral cat
- Black rat
- Pied crow
ThreatsPredation by introduced cats and rats, habitat disturbance, and rising sea levels on low atolls
HabitatsMangrove swamps, freshwater marshes, dense tropical scrub, and coastal forests
Life span8–12 years
Classification
- OrderGruiformes
- FamilyRallidae
- GenusDryolimnas
- SpeciesDryolimnas cuvieri
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Quiet Approach: Move slowly through dense scrub or forest paths to watch them forage without startling.
- Listen for Calls: Locate individuals by listening for sharp, rhythmic metallic clicks in the underbrush.
Frequent Companion (c) Eliane Küpfer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Eliane Küpfer · cc-by-sa
Image unavailableSame Order 
Same Family (c) Alexis Lours, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexis Lours · cc-by
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