| New Caledonian rail | |
|---|---|
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| Stuffed specimen | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Gruiformes |
| Family: | Rallidae |
| Genus: | Cabalus |
| Species: | C. lafresnayanus
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| Binomial name | |
| Cabalus lafresnayanus (Verreaux, J & Des Murs, 1860)
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| Synonyms | |
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The New Caledonian rail (Cabalus lafresnayanus) is a large and drab flightless rail endemic to the island of New Caledonia in the Pacific. It is Critically Endangered, may have gone extinct many decades ago already, and if it still exists it is one of the least-known living bird species.
It is a large rail, about 45 cm long, dull brown above, with grey underparts, and has a yellowish, downward-curving bill. The feathers are fluffy and silky, rendering the bird unable to fly; its wings are also reduced (but not as much as in other flightless rails). Due to it having not been seen since the 1890s, its call and daily habits are not known, but it is presumed to be a shy woodland species and possibly active at night, dusk or dawn.
- ^ BirdLife International (2013). "Gallirallus lafresnayanus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.