loading...
A photo of a Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana)
Spotted Crake

Spotted Crake

Porzana porzana

The spotted crake (Porzana porzana) is a small waterbird of the family Rallidae. The scientific name is derived from Venetian terms for small rails. The spotted crake's breeding habitat is marshes and sedge beds across temperate Europe into western Asia. They nest in a dry location in marsh vegetation, laying 6–15 eggs. This species is migratory, wintering in Africa and Pakistan. At length, spotted crakes are slightly smaller than water rails, from which they are readily distinguished by the short straight bill, yellow with a red base. Adults have mainly brown upperparts and blue-grey breast, with dark barring and white spots on the flanks. They have green legs with long toes, and a short tail which is buff underneath. Immature spotted crakes are similar, but the blue-grey is replaced by brown. The downy chicks are black, as with all rails. The only confusion species is the sora, a rare vagrant from North America. However, that species lacks the breast spotting and has an unstreaked crown stripe. These birds probe with their bill in mud or shallow water, also picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects and aquatic animals. Spotted crakes are very secretive in the breeding season, and are then mostly heard rather than seen. They are then noisy birds, with a distinctive repetitive whiplash-like hwuit, hwuit call. They can be easier to see on migration. The spotted crake is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. The Western European population has declined in recent decades, and the species is now a very rare breeding bird in Great Britain.
Birda logo
Download Birda for free and join the community of curious everyday people connecting with the natural world
Birda logo
Download Birda for free and join the community

Spotted Crakes on Birda

Photos

Sightings

A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Claudio Danesi
Claudio Danesi
Friday 28 Apr 2023 - 11:50am
Switzerland
A map showing the sighting location
🦢
Loreal Fernandez
Sunday 16 Apr 2023 - 2:41pm
South Africa
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Roger Carter
Roger Carter
Saturday 04 Feb 2023 - 8:35pm
United Kingdom
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Claudio Danesi
Claudio Danesi
Tuesday 18 Oct 2022 - 11:42am
Switzerland
Connect with nature,
Find your flock
Copyright © 2023 Chirp Birding Ltd. All rights reserved.