Nkulengu Rail
Himantornis haematopus
LCLeast Concern
- Family
- Rails, Gallinules, and Coots (Rallidae)
- Order
- Gruiformes
Overview
The Nkulengu rail (Himantornis haematopus) is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It belongs to the monotypic genus Himantornis.
For long, this singular rail was considered a member of a distinct subfamily Himantornithinae. This was based on the assumption that it was a sort of "living fossil", as it resembles other Gruiformes rather than other rails in many traits.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Humid forest of Sierra Leone to northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Nkulengu 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.
