It is apparently extinct throughout the Southern Atoll apart from occasional vagrant birds dispersing from North Keeling, which have been unable to establish viable populations.

[4] On North Keeling the rails occupy all the limited ground habitats, including the shore of the lagoon and the understorey vegetation of Pisonia forest and coconut palms.

[4] The rails are omnivorous, foraging over the ground throughout the island and the intertidal fringe of the central lagoon for crustaceans, molluscs, insects, worms, seeds, fruits, eggs and carrion, as well as scavenging the refuse of the seabird breeding colonies.

[2][5] The probable causes of extinction on the islands of the Southern Atoll are habitat clearance and predation by introduced mammals, including feral cats, black rats and humans, as well as competition with junglefowl.

[2] Threats to the only remaining breeding population on North Keeling are the introduced yellow crazy ant, the possibility of accidental introduction of terrestrial predators, and the impact of cyclones and tsunamis.