About the Wake Island Rail
The extinct Wake Island rail or Wake rail is an extinct flightless rail and the only native land bird on the Pacific atoll of Wake. It was found on the islands of Wake and Wilkes, and Peale, which is separated from the others by a channel of about 100 metres (330 ft). It was hunted to extinction during World War II. The species was formerly placed in the genus Hypotaenidia.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Gruiformes |
| Family | Rails, Gallinules, and Coots (Rallidae) |
| Species | Gallirallus wakensis |
| Species Codes | wairai1, WARA, WIRA |
| Conservation | extinct |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Wake Island Rail belong to?
The Wake Island Rail (Gallirallus wakensis) belongs to the Rails, Gallinules, and Coots family (Rallidae), in the order Gruiformes.
How can I identify the Wake Island Rail?
The extinct Wake Island rail or Wake rail is an extinct flightless rail and the only native land bird on the Pacific atoll of Wake. It was found on the islands of Wake and Wilkes, and Peale, which is separated from the others by a channel of about 100 metres (330 ft). It was hunted to extinction dur...
Where can I report a Wake Island Rail sighting?
You can log sightings of Wake Island Rail on eBird (ebird.org) using species code wairai1, or on iNaturalist.
Related Species in Rails, Gallinules, and Coots 156 species
More Birds in Order Gruiformes
Quick Stats
Spotted a Wake Island Rail?
Log your sighting on eBird or upload a photo to our AI Bird Identifier!