Tahiti crake (SciiFii)

The Tahiti crake (Zapornia nigra), also known as Miller's rail, is a species of bird in the family Rallidae native to Tahiti. It was once extinct since between late 18th century and early 19th century, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and reintroduced to Tahiti to help boost biodiversity. The Tahiti crake is similar to the similarly-sized black crake (Zapornia flavirostra), but with slightly shorter wings and is nearly flightless. The Tahiti crake is diurnal, and eats a wide range of invertebrates, small fish, frogs and seeds. It will take the eggs of birds and scavenge on carcasses. It will forage on the ground or climb reeds to find prey including flying insects. The Tahiti crake is extremely aggressive when breeding and will attack birds of many species, but especially other rails. It will attack and kill rails of species as large as itself. The nest is a deep, neat bowl made from wetland plants and built by both sexes in marsh vegetation or on the ground in a dry location. The nest is also sometimes constructed up to 3 m (9.8 ft) high in a bush. The two to six, usually three, eggs are cream or white, and spotted with brown or chestnut. Both parents, sometimes assisted by the young from previous broods, incubate for 13–19 days to hatching. The precocial chicks leave the nest in 1–3 days, but are fed by parents and helpers for several weeks. They can fly by 5–6 weeks, and are independent at 6–12 weeks. The conservation status of the Tahiti crake is Near Threatened due to some habitat loss and historic poaching, however, thanks to conservationists, the Tahiti crake has since made a comeback.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii