Water Rail

The Water Rail, Rallus aquaticus, is a small waterbird, of the family Rallidae.

Their breeding habitat is marshes and reedbeds across Europe and Asia. They nest in a dry location in marsh vegetation, laying up to a dozen eggs. Northernmost and eastern populations are migratory, but these rails are permanent residents in western and southern Europe, with numbers augmented by migrants in winter.

Adults have mainly brown upperparts and blue-grey underparts, with black barring on the flanks. The body is flattened laterally to allow easier passage through the reeds. They have long toes, a short tail and a long slim reddish bill. Legs are yellowish.

Immature birds are similar, but the blue-grey is replaced by buff. The downy chicks are black, as with all rails.

These birds probe with their bill in mud or shallow water, also picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects and aquatic animals.

Water Rails are very secretive in the breeding season, and are then mostly heard rather than seen. They are noisy birds, with a rich variety of sounds including a distinctive pig-like squeal. They are easier to see in winter, especially if freezing conditions push them to the edge of the reedbeds.