Chestnut Rail

The Chestnut Rail (Eulabeornis castaneoventris) lives only in the mangroves of northern Australia and the Aru Islands of Indonesia. They are wary birds and are more often heard than seen. They are territorial and hunt at low tide for small crabs and molluscs that live on the mud surface. Some Chestnut Rails use a hammerstone or anvil to break open the strong shells of their prey. A small pile or midden of broken shells is an indication of the bird's feeding activities.