A huge, distinctive all-dark flightless forest rail with a powerful red bill and red legs. Restricted to the island of Halmahera in the North Moluccas, where it occurs in swampy areas within forest, especially sago swamps. Very shy, roaming the forest floor singly or in pairs. Calls include deep drumming noises, and a racket of loud “WAK-WAK-WAK” notes repeated in an agitated-sounding series. Also gives quieter clucking notes.