Spotted Crake

Overview

The spotted crake (Porzana porzana) is a small waterbird belonging to the family Rallidae, with a scientific name derived from Venetian terms for small rails. Classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, this migratory species breeds in temperate Europe and western Asia, while wintering in Africa and Pakistan.

Identification

• Measures 19–22.5 cm in length, slightly smaller than water rails.
• Features a short straight bill that is yellow with a red base, and green legs with long toes.
• Adults display mainly brown upperparts and a blue-grey breast, with dark barring and white spots on the flanks; immatures replace the blue-grey with brown.
• Produces a distinctive repetitive whiplash-like 'hwuit, hwuit' call, often heard rather than seen during the breeding season.

Habitat

Breeding habitat consists of marshes and sedge beds across temperate Europe extending into western Asia. The species is migratory, spending the winter months in Africa and Pakistan. Nests are constructed in dry locations within marsh vegetation, typically containing 6–15 eggs.

Diet

Spotted crakes forage by probing with their bill in mud or shallow water, and also pick up food by sight. Their diet consists mainly of insects and aquatic animals.

Did you know?

The Western European population has declined in recent decades, rendering the species a very rare breeding bird in Great Britain.