These marshlands are being destroyed for a number of reasons such as, farming, grazing and sedge harvesting, but some efforts are being taken to protect the white-winged flufftail.

In flight both sexes also show distinctive white secondary feathers, a feature shared only with the related genus Coturnicops.

[5] The uncertainty of the white-winged flufftail's population status is the result of a low amount of research conducted on a rare bird.

The regions these birds reside in often have peat soil that helps grow the sedges prevalent in these seasonal marshlands.

[6] These birds will lay about four to five eggs in hidden ground nests vulnerable to human and/or livestock traffic.

In Ethiopia, human population growth adds pressure to crop farming, overgrazing, and harvesting sedges for livestock feed.

[6] Sedges, an important habitat feature for the white-winged flufftail, are also harvested for a local coffee brewing custom.

[6] Human alteration of this habitat such as water abstraction and grazing have changed the characteristics of these wetlands and are affecting the local fauna as a result.

[6] While efforts have been taken by Ethiopian Wildlife, Natural History Society, Middelpunt Weltand Trust,[7] it has already been seen that the Weserbi wetland had its last white-winged flufftail sighting in 2003.