Appearance:

Small, secretive bird, usually only heard and not seen. Buff under tail-coverts and zigzag-patterned wings are diagnostic, and separates it from all other small rails in the region except American migrant Sora. Stocky build, with speckled underparts and short yellow bill with red spot at upper base.

Sound:

Loud and far reaching song uttered with relentless stamina for hours on end. A monosyllabic, resonant and drawn-out "huiiit". The pith rises towards the emphasized end of the call, which is repeated about once a second. Often compared to the dripping of water. Mostly heard at night, and often i duet with mate. The female answers the male with a slightly deeper and softer call, giving the impression of one bird giving a disyllabic call.

Song:

Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Sounds:Recorded by Edmunds Racinskis

CC-photo:ajmatthehiddenhouse, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Most likely to be confused with Little Crake (P. parva). Most important field characters is the very short primary projection and lack of red base of bill. Some caution should be taken as missing or unorderly tertials can be confusing with regards to the projection, and immature Little Crake may sometimes also lack red base of bill. Flanks and belly more extensively barred than P. parva. Upperparts richer brown with white spots. Sexes alike, but females often with paler throat. Brown cheeks occurs in both sexes. Legs dirty olive colour and bill greenish. Immature even more easily confused with P. parva, but apart from the missing projection, note warmer brown upperparts and more heavily barred underparts, even on breast. Crown less evenly coloured than P. parva, with blackish speckles.

Sound:

Rich repertiore. Male song easily overlooked due to similarity to The edible frog Pelophylax esculentus., and to being audible only a few hundred meters. The sound, a rolling "trrrrrrrr", differs from frogs in being drier and more stable in pitch. Sometimes the pitch rises slightly in the beginning of the call, but then remains stable also at the end. The call is uttered in 1-2 seconds intervals and each call is 2-3 seconds long. Some overtone modulation is common (stable pitch but change of vocal "ooeeii"). Unmated female sings with a more hurried "wirrr". Alarm call a series of nasal, hoarse "weeat" or a sharp "kriik".

Male song:

Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

CC

CC-sound:Edmunds Racinskis, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Peter Jacobs Photos, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:gilgit2, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Marc Herremans, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Marc Herremans, Licence,Link.