Porzana porzana
Copied!
Mass
~85 g
Habitat
Wetlands and marshes
Diet
Fish and aquatic animals
How to recognize it
Spotted Crake is a secretive inhabitant of wet thickets, noticed more by its voice than by its movements. It stays low in the vegetation, slips quickly through shallow water, and usually tries hard to remain out of sight.
In spring, especially in April and May, the male is more often heard at night than seen. Its repeated whistle can carry a long way, while at other times it is usually quiet.
It needs marshes, wet meadows, and shallow fresh water with dense plant cover. It feeds on seeds, plant matter, insects, molluscs, and other small aquatic animals, and most populations move south in autumn.
Quick Facts
Listen to the call
Spotted Crake is a secretive inhabitant of wet thickets, noticed more by its voice than by its movements. It stays low in the vegetation, slips quickly through shallow water, and usually tries hard to remain out of sight.
In spring, especially in April and May, the male is more often heard at night than seen. Its repeated whistle can carry a long way, while at other times it is usually quiet.
It needs marshes, wet meadows, and shallow fresh water with dense plant cover. It feeds on seeds, plant matter, insects, molluscs, and other small aquatic animals, and most populations move south in autumn.
