Luzon Rail (Rallus mirificus)?

[Romy Ocon]

While birding in the Cordilleras a few days ago, I decided to drop by the local DENR office at Buguias, Benguet, to ask info on potential bird locations. The DENR guys were very helpful and accommodating.

In the middle of one of our conversations, Mr. Ruben Canite (DENR-PAWS officer) mentioned a bird that they caught way back October 17, 2006, which remains unidentified to date. The bird flew into an electric wire the night before (between 9 - 10 pm) and fell to the ground, beside the DENR-Buguias office (Elev. 1810 m ASL). They caught it and, seeing that it was unharmed, they kept it in an empty chicken coop for photo-documentation the following morning. After photographing it with a digital P&S, they released the bird.

I immediately asked if i can see the photo, and they showed it to me. I couldn't find a close match in the Kennedy Guide, so I just requested that I copy the file so I can refer it to experts when I get back to the city.

Here's the photo of the bird:



To my eyes, it resembles the rare Luzon Rail (Rallus mirificus), which is posted at OBI:
www.orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?action=searchresult&Bird_ID=793

Note that the OBI bird was photographed at Mt. Data, which is just a few km away from Buguias, Benguet.


Looking forward to Steve's and others' comments.

Romy

[Eric Patdu]

Wow, you might have just bumped into something interesting Sir Romy.

[Adri Constantino]

wow, exciting news. I hope the locals there have stopped netting birds during the night. I heard a story from Des or Arne that lots of birds are collected there, most of them hard to see birds, such as uncommon rails, crakes, buttonquails and even bleeding hearts.

[Romy Ocon]

Another photo showing more of the side: