Okinawa Rail
Gallirallus okinawae
- Family
- Rails, Gallinules, and Coots (Rallidae)
- Order
- Gruiformes
Overview
The Okinawa rail (Gallirallus 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. The species was formerly placed in the genus Hypotaenidia.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Forest and edge from lowlands to hills of northern Okinawa (Ryukyu Islands, southern Japan).
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Okinawa rail
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
