- Rallus aquaticus
Description
Upperparts olive-brown with broad, black streaks, broad bars on underparts, and greyish supercillium.
Distribution
Breeds throughout Palearctic; winters to Southeast Asia, India and Borneo.
Taxonomy
Subspecies1
- R. a. hibernans - Iceland
- R. a. aquaticus - W Palearctic
- R. a. korejewi - Iran to nw China; winters to India and s China
- R. a. indicus - E Siberia to Japan; winters to SE Asia and Borneo
Habitat
Reed-beds, marshes, etc.
Behaviour
A skulker, this bird is much more often located by its piglet-like squeals. Food includes both invertebrates and plant materials like seeds.
Bird Song
<flashmp3>Rallus aquaticus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Clements James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2008. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019