All historical records of White-browed Crake (Porzana cinerea) in mainland Southeast Asia were south of the Isthmus of Kra, suggesting a Sundaic distribution. The first records from continental Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos revise the known resident distribution north almost to China. Information is inadequate to assess whether the species was historically overlooked across this huge area, or has genuinely expanded its range. Several factors suggest the latter, a pattern shown by no other bird species, and surprising given the pressing threats faced by wetlands and rallids in Southeast Asia.