Hodgen's Rail was a large, flightless rail endemic to New Zealand. Known from extensive fossil remains, it was a robust species that likely inhabited forested and scrubland environments. It went extinct shortly after human arrival.
Where to spot
Known only from fossil and subfossil remains across both the North and South Islands of New Zealand.
How to spot
This bird is extinct and cannot be observed. Information is based on skeletal remains.
When to spot
Extinct. It is believed to have gone extinct during the Polynesian settlement of New Zealand, due to hunting and predation by introduced Pacific rats.
Where to spot
Known only from fossil and subfossil remains across both the North and South Islands of New Zealand.
How to spot
This bird is extinct and cannot be observed. Information is based on skeletal remains.
When to spot
Extinct. It is believed to have gone extinct during the Polynesian settlement of New Zealand, due to hunting and predation by introduced Pacific rats.
This rail was one of several large, flightless birds that evolved in New Zealand in the absence of mammalian predators, only to quickly disappear following the arrival of humans and introduced predators.
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