The
buff-banded rail (
Gallirallus philippensis) is a distinctively coloured, highly dispersive, medium-sized rail of the family
Rallidae. This species comprises several subspecies found throughout much of
Australasia and the south-west
Pacific region. A largely terrestrial bird the size of a small domestic chicken, it feeds on a range of terrestrial invertebrates and small vertebrates, seeds, fallen fruit and other vegetable matter, as well as carrion and refuse.
Photograph: Toby Hudson