Guam Rail
Gallirallus owstoni
Conservation Status
Data DeficientAves · Gruiformes · Rallidae
About
The Guam rail, known locally and in Chamorro as ko'ko', is a small, terrestrial bird endemic to Guam in the Rallidae family. They are one of the island's few remaining endemic bird species. The species became extinct in the wild in the early 1980s when biologists captured the remaining wild population to establish a breeding program. They have since been successfully introduced to the nearby Rota and Cocos islands. In 2019, they became the second bird species to be reclassified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature from Extinct in the Wild to Critically Endangered.
Fun Fact
They mature at six months of age, and have been known to produce up to 10 clutches per year in captivity.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Distributed widely across most habitats on the island, including mixed forest, savanna, grasslands, fern thickets, and agricultural areas.
Diet
Diet consists of giant African snails, which were introduced to Guam around 1945 and became an easy food source for the birds.
Lifespan
To be updated
Threats
- Habitat Change
- Human Disturbance