From Opus

Photo by tracker
Mere Sands Wood, Lancashire, England

Rallus aquaticus

[edit] Identification

Upperparts olive-brown with broad, black streaks, broad bars on underparts, and greyish supercillium.

[edit] Distribution

Breeds throughout most of the Palearctic; winters to India and southern China.

[edit] Taxonomy

Photo by angletarn
Brandon Marsh, Warwickshire, October 2009

Brown-cheeked Rail used to be included in this species as a subspecies.

[edit] Subspecies¹

• R. a. hibernans - Iceland
• R. a. aquaticus - Western Palearctic
• R. a. korejewi - Iran to north-western China; winters to India and southern China

[edit] Habitat

Reed-beds, marshes, etc.

[edit] Behaviour

A skulker, this bird is much more often located by its piglet-like squeals. Food includes both invertebrates and plant materials like seeds.

[edit] Vocalisation

[edit] References

1. 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

• List of references

[edit] External Links