Black-tailed Native Hen

Description:

The Black-tailed Native-hen is a "large, stout, dark, fleet-footed rail with an erect narrow black tail which is held folded. The bird is mainly brownish-grey, with white spots on the flanks. The bill and frontal shield is green, with an orange-red lower mandible ('jaw'). Legs and feet are bright pink. The eye is bright yellow." (Birds in Backyards: http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/... )

Habitat:

Having a feed in the water at Mankajarra Wetlands. This is towards the end of the dry season and in the build up to the wet season. Although the water level was low at the time, (it got much lower see pic 4 taken one week after the Black-tailed Native Hen), there was still water and food due to the large amount of rain from the previous wet season (see pic 3 taken April 2017 just after the wet season) . Mankajarra has stands of Paperbark Trees (Melaleuca sp.) and other plants along the edges of the water. When the water level is high, the trees are in the water (see pic 3) and the birds have many more places to hide in and hunt from.

Notes:

First time seeing these very cool Hens!!! The first sighting was of only two but we did see three in the end. Thanks to my mum for the identification! The video was taken on the 26th November 2017: https://youtu.be/OpjJ4HIHLYw Reference: The Michael Morcombe eGuide to Australian Birds, Mobile App