Species

Justification
This species is listed as Data Deficient because there are few recent records and almost nothing known of its distribution, population, ecology and threats, thus an assessment of its threat status is currently not possible.

Taxonomic source(s)
Sibley, C. G.; Monroe, B. L. 1990. Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world. Yale University Press, New Haven, USA.

Taxonomic note
Lewinia pectoralis and L. mirifica, cross-regional species, and L. muelleri, a New Zealand endemic (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) are retained as separate species contra Turbott (1990) who include mirifica and muelleri as subspecies of L. pectoralis, pending revision of the New Zealand CheckList. Gender agreement of species name follows David and Gosselin (2002b).

Synonym(s)
Lewinia mirificus Collar et al. (1994), Lewinia mirificus BirdLife International (2000), Lewinia mirificus BirdLife International (2004), Lewinia mirificus Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Lewinia mirificus , Rallus mirificus Collar and Andrew (1988), Rallus mirificus mirificus Collar and Andrew (1988)

Distribution and population
Lewinia mirificus is known from Luzon and Samar in the Philippines, to which it is probably endemic, although as breeding there has not been confirmed, this remains to be proven (Collar et al. 1999). The vast majority of records derive from the migration funnel, and bird-catching site, of Dalton Pass on Luzon, where over 200 were recorded between 1965 and 1970, suggesting that it may persist in reasonable numbers, and that it is migratory. In October 2009, 10 individuals were recorded as they were caught by bird-trappers (Allen 2010). Although breeding and non-breeding areas are uncertain, these records infer movements either between the Cagayan valley and Luzon's central plain, or between the Cordillera Central and the Sierra Madre mountains; if the former is true, the records from south Luzon and Samar may relate to overshooting migrants. Recently an individual was observed in degraded cloudforest at 2,240 m on Mount Data, Luzon in January 2001. The bird was heard to call (a frog-like accelerating series of clicking notes), and the same call was heard in cloudforest at 1,100 m on Mayon Volcano in Southern Luzon (Dinets 2001).

Trend justification
The population trend is difficult to determine because of uncertainty over the extent of threats to the species.

Ecology
Although it has been speculated that it has strict habitat requirements, if these are similar to its congener (and possibly conspecific) Lewin's Rail L. pectoralis, it may prove to be rather cosmopolitan in its preferences, as the few documented details (cloudforest, near pine forest, and in a small undisturbed riverside swamp), from 550-2,250 m, imply.

Threats
The only known threat is hunting (evidenced at Dalton Pass), although the impact of this on its population cannot currently be gauged.

Conservation actions underway
None are known.

Conservation actions proposed
Prioritise fieldwork to clarify the distribution and habitat requirements of the species and to locate viable populations at sites where it might be effectively protected.

References
Collar, N. J.; Mallari, N. A. D.; Tabaranza, B. R. J. 1999. Threatened birds of the Philippines: the Haribon Foundation/BirdLife International Red Data Book. Bookmark, Makati City.

Dinets, V. 2001. Ornithological records from Luzon during January-February 2001, including a description of the voice of Luzon Rail Lewinia mirificus. Oriental Bird Club Bulletin 34: 40-41.

Allen, D. 2010. Brown-banded Rail Lewinia mirifica at Dalton Pass, Philippines. BirdingASIA 13: 43-48.

Further web sources of information
Detailed species accounts from the Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 2001).

Hear sounds for this species from xeno-canto, the community database of shared bird sounds from around the world.

View photos and videos, and hear sounds of this species from the Internet Bird Collection

Text account compilers
Benstead, P., Lowen, J., Symes, A., Taylor, J.

IUCN Red List evaluators
Butchart, S., Symes, A.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Lewinia mirifica. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/05/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/05/2013.

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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