Australian Crake

The Australian crake, also known as the Australian spotted crake or simply spotted crake, is a small, elusive bird that graces the wetlands of Australia. With a length ranging from 19 to 23 centimeters and a wingspan of 27 to 33 centimeters, this bird is a compact package of energy. It is characterized by a sooty face, a steel-blue to dark grey underbelly, and brown upperparts streaked with black and white. The flanks are barred black and white, and the undertail coverts present a striking upside-down V pattern when the tail is raised.

Identification Tips

To identify the Australian crake, look for its yellow-green bill with a red base on the upper mandible, yellow-green legs and feet, and a red iris. The outermost primaries of its wings have a white leading edge, visible during flight. Males and females are similar in appearance, though females may be slightly smaller and paler, with more defined white spots on the breast and neck. Juveniles lack the steel-blue or dark grey plumage of adults and instead exhibit brown and white speckled underparts.

Habitat

The Australian crake is found in a variety of wetland habitats, including marshes, swamps, estuaries, and saltmarshes. It shows a preference for areas with dense vegetation such as lignum, chenopods, rushes, and sedges.

Distribution

Endemic to Australia, this species is widespread across southeast and Western Australia, with a less common presence in Tasmania and the tropical regions of northern Australia. Its distribution is influenced by water availability, and it may extend its range inland following periods of significant rainfall.

Behaviour

The Australian crake is often seen foraging in pairs or family groups, and in times of abundant food, it may gather in large flocks of up to 100 individuals. It is known to forage in densely vegetated areas, on mudflats, or in shallow waters.

Breeding

Breeding season for the Australian crake spans from August to February. Nests are constructed over or beside water, with additional nesting materials forming an inverted dome shape. Clutches typically consist of 3 to 6 pale brown eggs, speckled with darker colors, and both parents share incubation duties. The young are precocial and leave the nest soon after hatching.

Similar Species

The Australian crake can be confused with Baillon's crake, but it is stockier and darker, and lacks the barred undertail of its relative.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Australian crake includes aquatic plants, algae, seeds, molluscs, crustaceans, spiders, tadpoles, and various insects. It employs a range of foraging techniques, such as probing the ground, wading, swimming, and submerging its head underwater.

Conservation status

The Australian Crake is listed as Least Concern but it faces threats from habitat loss, invasive species, agriculture, livestock grazing, and climate change. Conservation of wetland habitats would aid the survival of this species.