• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Taxonomic note
Sometimes placed in genus Dryolimnas. Closely related to L. mirifica and L. pectoralis; on occasion regarded as subspecies of L. pectoralis, but differs in its much smaller wing (score estimated at 3); much reduced streaking on crown and hindneck (2); upperparts with sparser, narrower streaking (1); barring on upperwing-coverts reduced (1). Monotypic.

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

Red List criteria met

Critically Endangered	Endangered	Vulnerable
-	-	D2

Red List history

Year	Category	Criteria
2022	Vulnerable	D2
2016	Vulnerable	D2
2012	Vulnerable	D2
2008	Vulnerable	D2
2006	Vulnerable
2004	Vulnerable
2000	Vulnerable
1996	Vulnerable
1994	Vulnerable
1988	Lower Risk/Least Concern

Migratory status	not a migrant	Forest dependency	low
Land-mass type		Average mass	93 g

	Estimate	Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident)	360 km2	medium
Area of Occupancy (breeding/resident)	46 km2	good
Number of locations	2	-
Severely fragmented?	no	-

	Estimate	Data quality	Derivation	Year of estimate
Population size	2000 mature individuals	medium	estimated	2020
Population trend	stable	poor	suspected	-
Generation length	4.21 years	-	-	-
Number of subpopulations	2	-	-	-
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation	1-89%	-	-	-

Population justification: It is thought that there were over 500 mature individuals on Disappointment Island in 1993 (Walker et al. 2020), and the species was recorded on 46% of complete bird lists between 1972 and 2018 (Miskelly et al. 2020), indicating that within its very limited range on the island it is common. On Adams Island, where suitable habitat may cover as little as 10% of the island (Elliott et al. 1991), the population was estimated at approximately 1,500 mature individuals by Heather and Robertson (1997), recorded on 27% of complete bird lists between 1972 and 2018 (Miskelly et al. 2020). The population is currently thought to be stable (Robertson et al. 2021), and with no recent survey data to indicate a decline or increase in population size since these estimates were made, the population is estimated to number c.2,000 mature individuals.

Trend justification: There are no new data on population trends; however, the species is suspected to have remained stable within the last three generations (Robertson et al. 2013, 2017, 2021).

Country/Territory	Presence	Origin	Resident	Breeding visitor	Non-breeding visitor	Passage migrant
New Zealand	extant	native	yes

Country/Territory	IBA Name
New Zealand	Adams Island
New Zealand	Disappointment Island

Habitat (level 1)	Habitat (level 2)	Importance	Occurrence
Forest	Subantarctic	major	resident
Grassland	Subantarctic	major	resident
Altitude	0 - 300 m	Occasional altitudinal limits

Threat (level 1)	Threat (level 2)	Impact and Stresses
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Felis catus	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Future		Majority (50-90%)		Rapid Declines		Low Impact: 5
		Stresses Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Mus musculus	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Future		Majority (50-90%)		Rapid Declines		Low Impact: 5
		Stresses Reduced reproductive success
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Sus domesticus	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Future		Majority (50-90%)		Rapid Declines		Low Impact: 5
		Stresses Species disturbance, Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases	Problematic native species/diseases - Falco novaeseelandiae	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Minority (<50%)		Negligible declines		Low Impact: 4
		Stresses Species mortality

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Auckland Island Rail Lewinia muelleri. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/auckland-island-rail-lewinia-muelleri on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.