Page 159 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

RAILS, CRAKES,AND COOTS
Order Gruiformes Family Rallidae Species Porzana porzana
Spotted Crake

short, often
cocked tail
ADULT
rotund from side
grey-buff
neck with
striped white spots
underparts
buff short
under yellowish
tail white bars bill with
IN FLIGHT on flanks red at base
browner on
head and neck
than adult

ADULT
JUVENILE FLIGHT: short, quick flights if flushed from vege-
tation, dropping back into cover with dangling legs.
he Spotted Crake is another “shy” bird that hides
Titself in thick vegetation but, at times, allows
remarkably close views: careful observation reveals a
beautifully patterned and almost shiny-plumaged bird.
Spotted Crakes in spring are elusive but can be
detected by their nocturnal whiplash calls. Most in
western Europe are seen on migration in autumn,
where falling water levels have exposed bands of mud
along the edges of reedbeds.
VOICE Repeated, rhythmic, whipped, or dripping
hwit, hwit, hwit, at dusk or after dark.
NESTING Small saucer of leaves and stems, placed in
upright stalks raised above water or in wet marsh;
8–12 eggs; 1 brood; May–July. SLIM SHAPE
FEEDING Picks various small insects and aquatic Like all crakes and rails, the Spotted Crake appears deep-bodied from the
invertebrates from mud, foliage, and water. side but end-on, it is slim, easily able to slip between reeds and sedges.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Widespread except in far N Europe,
MOORHEN larger more solidly WATER RAIL but everywhere very patchy. Breeds
see p.158 coloured see p.156
in extensive flood-meadows;
migrant in wet marsh in reedy
places, often appearing at edge of
muddy pools and generally elusive
bold long in dense cover rather than shy.
white red
patch bill Seen in the UK
under tail
J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 22–24cm (9–9 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 35cm (14in) Weight 70–80g (2 1 ⁄2 –2 7 ⁄8oz)
Social Solitary Lifespan Up to 5 years Status Secure
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