Due to confusion about the name, the name "Rallus ecaudatus" was commonly used in the mid-late 20th century to refer to this bird. This is, however, in error, as the name is a subspecies of the buff-banded rail. Today it is known as "Gallirallus philippensis ecaudatus". Also, at least once, the Tahitian bird has been referred to by the scientific name of the Samoan wood rail, "Gallinula pacifica", in a major scientific work.