Upperparts dark brown, underparts blue-gray, with red legs and short black bill.
WA: Rare
Indigenous: Spotless Water Crake, Little Tarler Bird, Putoto, Little Swamphen, Little Waterhen, Swamp Rail, Tabuan Crake, Leaden Crake
At a glance
FamilyRails, Gallinules, and Coots
SizeSmall
RarityCommon
HabitatInhabits wetlands where there is dense vegetation surrounding the water.
Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from January to April.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Rob
Range map
Range map
200approx hotspots
34357approx records
7states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Quite skittish and often difficult to observe.
Behavior
Forages secretively along densely vegetated wetland edges, usually remaining under cover and giving repeated calls.
Gallery
Regional timing
Queensland
New South Wales
Western Australia
Victoria
South Australia
Australian Capital Territory
Tasmania
Northern Territory
Commonly confused with
Baillon's CrakeZapornia pusillaUsually retiring and rarely seen, but can be confiding. Although unmistakeable in parts of its range, it can sometimes co-occur with the similar Little Crake. Best told by its shorter wings, short, greenish bill that lacks red base and barred flanks; juvenile darker and more extensively barred below than juvenile Little Crake.→Australian CrakePorzana flumineaTail is often held cocked.→