| Okinawa rail | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Gruiformes |
| Family: | Rallidae |
| Genus: | Hypotaenidia |
| Species: | H. okinawae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Hypotaenidia okinawae (Yamashina & Mano, 1981)
| |
| |
| Approximate distribution
Range
Depicted: Okinawa Island, Japan | |
| Synonyms | |
The Okinawa rail (Hypotaenidia okinawae) is a species of bird in the rail family, Rallidae. It is endemic to Okinawa Island in Japan where it is known as the Yanbaru kuina (ヤンバルクイナ（山原水鶏）, "Yanbaru rail"). Its existence was only confirmed in 1978 and it was formally described in 1981 although unidentified rails had been recorded on the island since at least 1973 and local stories of a bird known as the agachi kumira may refer to this species.[2]
It is a medium-sized and almost flightless rail with short wings and tail, olive-brown upperparts, black underparts with white bars and a red bill and legs.
It occurs in subtropical moist forests and in neighboring habitats. It nests and feeds on the ground but usually roosts in trees. It is classified as an endangered species and is threatened by habitat loss and introduced predators.[1]
- ^ a b BirdLife International (2016). "Hypotaenidia okinawae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22692412A93352408. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22692412A93352408.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ Brazil, Mark A. (1991) The Birds of Japan, Christopher Helm, London.