Australian Crake
NameAustralian Crake
Common NameAustralian Crake
Scientific NamePorzana fluminea
FamilyRallidae
Wingspan (cm)28
Length (cm)21
Weight (g)60
Plumage DetailsThe head and neck are dark grey, contrasting with a bright red eye and a pale green bill. The back and wings are dark brown to blackish, heavily streaked and spotted with white. Underparts are dark grey, becoming paler on the belly, and the undertail coverts are conspicuously white with some dark barring.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include a sharp, repeated 'crek-crek' or 'krek-krek' call, often given at night. They also produce a trilling or churring sound.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatswetland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeWidespread across mainland Australia and Tasmania, particularly in suitable freshwater wetland habitats. Absent from the driest interior regions.
Identifying Featuresbright red eye, pale green bill, dark grey head and neck, dark brown back with white spots/streaks, conspicuous white undertail coverts
Description
A small, secretive waterbird, the Australian Crake is characterized by its dark grey head, bright red eye, and a dark, spotted back. It typically forages in dense vegetation at the edges of freshwater wetlands, often flicking its prominent white undertail.
