Past record of the spotless crake 'Porzana tabuensis' (Rallidae) at Lake Eacham, north Queensland

The Spotless Crake Porzana tabuensis is a small, shy crake which usually feeds within the cover of dense vegetation (Blakers et al. 1984, Nielsen 1992, Marchant and Higgins 1993). It occupies a scattered distribution throughout Australia, and although it is encountered in all states, including Tasmania, large parts of the range of this species are not apparently occupied (Blakers et al. 1984, Marchant and Higgins 1993). A majority of records of the Spotless Crake are concentrated in south-eastern and south-western Australia. However, its shyness may account for the apparent absence of this species in various localities. This note reports a sighting from a locality where the Spotless Crake has not previously been recorded.