Water Rail
The Water Rail is a member of the rail family. The adult is about 9 to 11 inches long with a 15 to 18 inches wingspan. The upper parts from the forehead to tail are olive-brown with black streaks, especially on the shoulders. The sides of the head and the underparts down to the upper belly are dark slate-blue, except for a blackish area between bill and eye and brownish sides to the upper breast. The flanks are barred black and white and the undertail is white with some darker streaks. The long bill and the iris are red and the legs are flesh-brown. The sexes are similar although the female averages slightly smaller than the male with a more slender bill.
Individual adults can be identified by the markings on the undertail which are unique to each bird. Adult males have the strongest black undertail streaks. It has been suggested that the dark barring on the undertail of this species is a compromise between the signalling function of a pure white undertail, as found in open water or gregarious species like the Moorhen, and the need to avoid being too conspicuous.
The Water Rail can readily be distinguished from most other reed bed rails by the white undertail and the red bill which is a little longer than the rest of the head and slightly down-curved.
The Water Rail is a vocal species which gives its main call, known as "sharming", throughout the year. This is a series of grunts followed by a high-pitched piglet-like squeal and ending in more grunts. It is used as a territorial call, alarm and announcement. Members of a pair may call alternately, the male giving lower and slower notes than the female. Birds are most vocal when setting up a territory and early in the breeding season when calling may continue at night.
The Water Rail is a skulking species, its streaked plumage making it difficult to see in its wetland habitat. Its laterally compressed body allows it to slip though the densest vegetation and it will "freeze" if surprised in the open. It walks with a high-stepping gait although it adopts a crouch when it runs for cover. It swims, when necessary, with the jerky motion typical of rails and it flies short distances low with its long legs dangling. Although its flight looks weak, the Water Rail is capable of long sustained flights during its nocturnal migration.
The Water Rail breeds across temperate Eurasia from Iceland and the UK discontinuously to north Africa, Saudi Arabia and western China. Its distribution in Asia is poorly studied. It is resident in the milder south and west of its range but migrates south from areas that are subject to harsh winters. It winters within its breeding range and also further south in north Africa, the Middle East and the Caspian Sea area. The peak migration period is September to October with most birds returning to the breeding grounds from March to mid-April.
The Water Rail is widely but thinly distributed as a breeding bird across the UK but it is absent from upland areas. It is most abundant in eastern England and suitable habitat along the south coast. Numbers are higher in winter when many birds arrive from Europe.
The breeding habitat of the Water Rail is permanent wetland with still or slow-moving fresh or brackish water and dense, tall vegetation. On migration and in winter, a wider range of wet habitats may be used such as flooded thickets or bracken. Freezing condition may force birds into more open locations such as ditches, rubbish dumps and gardens or even out on to exposed ice.
The Water Rail is monogamous and highly territorial when breeding. The birds pair off after arriving at their nesting areas or possibly even before spring migration. The pair give courting and contact calls throughout the breeding season. The nest is well hidden and made from whatever wetland vegetation is available. It is built mostly by the male and usually in a single day. It is raised 6 inches or more above water level and is generally constructed on clumps of roots, tree stumps or similar support. It may be built up higher if water levels start to rise. The typical clutch is 6 to 11 eggs across most of the range and the clutch size may be smaller early or late in the breeding season. The breeding season can be extended by replacement and second clutches. Both parents incubate the eggs although the female takes the larger share of this duty. The eggs are incubated for 19 to 22 days to hatching. The downy chicks leave the nest within 2 days of hatching but continue to be fed by their parents, although the chicks also find some of their own food after about 5 days. The chicks are independent of their parents after 20 to 30 days and can fly when aged 7 to 9 weeks. Average survival after fledging has been estimated as between 17 and 20 months with an annual survival rate slightly less than 50% per year for the first 3 years and somewhat higher thereafter. The maximum recorded age is 8 years 10 months.
The Water Rail is a versatile and opportunistic forager although it follows definite routes when feeding, frequently returning to good hunting areas. It is omnivorous although it mainly feeds on animals such as leeches, worms, gastropods, small crustaceans, spiders and a wide range of both terrestrial and aquatic insects and their larvae. Small vertebrates such as amphibians, fish, birds and mammals may be killed or eaten as carrion. Plant food, which is consumed more in autumn and winter, includes the buds, flowers, shoots and seeds of water plants, berries and fruit.
The Water Rail's numbers are declining but it has a large population and a huge breeding range. In most European countries, the population is either stable or decreasing slightly due to loss of habitat arising from the drainage of marshes, canalisation of water courses, urban encroachment and pollution. Introduced predators such as American Mink are a threat to vulnerable island populations.
Date: 17th January 2016
Location: Caerlaverock WWT reserve, Dumfries and Galloway
Individual adults can be identified by the markings on the undertail which are unique to each bird. Adult males have the strongest black undertail streaks. It has been suggested that the dark barring on the undertail of this species is a compromise between the signalling function of a pure white undertail, as found in open water or gregarious species like the Moorhen, and the need to avoid being too conspicuous.
The Water Rail can readily be distinguished from most other reed bed rails by the white undertail and the red bill which is a little longer than the rest of the head and slightly down-curved.
The Water Rail is a vocal species which gives its main call, known as "sharming", throughout the year. This is a series of grunts followed by a high-pitched piglet-like squeal and ending in more grunts. It is used as a territorial call, alarm and announcement. Members of a pair may call alternately, the male giving lower and slower notes than the female. Birds are most vocal when setting up a territory and early in the breeding season when calling may continue at night.
The Water Rail is a skulking species, its streaked plumage making it difficult to see in its wetland habitat. Its laterally compressed body allows it to slip though the densest vegetation and it will "freeze" if surprised in the open. It walks with a high-stepping gait although it adopts a crouch when it runs for cover. It swims, when necessary, with the jerky motion typical of rails and it flies short distances low with its long legs dangling. Although its flight looks weak, the Water Rail is capable of long sustained flights during its nocturnal migration.
The Water Rail breeds across temperate Eurasia from Iceland and the UK discontinuously to north Africa, Saudi Arabia and western China. Its distribution in Asia is poorly studied. It is resident in the milder south and west of its range but migrates south from areas that are subject to harsh winters. It winters within its breeding range and also further south in north Africa, the Middle East and the Caspian Sea area. The peak migration period is September to October with most birds returning to the breeding grounds from March to mid-April.
The Water Rail is widely but thinly distributed as a breeding bird across the UK but it is absent from upland areas. It is most abundant in eastern England and suitable habitat along the south coast. Numbers are higher in winter when many birds arrive from Europe.
The breeding habitat of the Water Rail is permanent wetland with still or slow-moving fresh or brackish water and dense, tall vegetation. On migration and in winter, a wider range of wet habitats may be used such as flooded thickets or bracken. Freezing condition may force birds into more open locations such as ditches, rubbish dumps and gardens or even out on to exposed ice.
The Water Rail is monogamous and highly territorial when breeding. The birds pair off after arriving at their nesting areas or possibly even before spring migration. The pair give courting and contact calls throughout the breeding season. The nest is well hidden and made from whatever wetland vegetation is available. It is built mostly by the male and usually in a single day. It is raised 6 inches or more above water level and is generally constructed on clumps of roots, tree stumps or similar support. It may be built up higher if water levels start to rise. The typical clutch is 6 to 11 eggs across most of the range and the clutch size may be smaller early or late in the breeding season. The breeding season can be extended by replacement and second clutches. Both parents incubate the eggs although the female takes the larger share of this duty. The eggs are incubated for 19 to 22 days to hatching. The downy chicks leave the nest within 2 days of hatching but continue to be fed by their parents, although the chicks also find some of their own food after about 5 days. The chicks are independent of their parents after 20 to 30 days and can fly when aged 7 to 9 weeks. Average survival after fledging has been estimated as between 17 and 20 months with an annual survival rate slightly less than 50% per year for the first 3 years and somewhat higher thereafter. The maximum recorded age is 8 years 10 months.
The Water Rail is a versatile and opportunistic forager although it follows definite routes when feeding, frequently returning to good hunting areas. It is omnivorous although it mainly feeds on animals such as leeches, worms, gastropods, small crustaceans, spiders and a wide range of both terrestrial and aquatic insects and their larvae. Small vertebrates such as amphibians, fish, birds and mammals may be killed or eaten as carrion. Plant food, which is consumed more in autumn and winter, includes the buds, flowers, shoots and seeds of water plants, berries and fruit.
The Water Rail's numbers are declining but it has a large population and a huge breeding range. In most European countries, the population is either stable or decreasing slightly due to loss of habitat arising from the drainage of marshes, canalisation of water courses, urban encroachment and pollution. Introduced predators such as American Mink are a threat to vulnerable island populations.
Date: 17th January 2016
Location: Caerlaverock WWT reserve, Dumfries and Galloway
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Also in: Crakes and rails
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