Corn crake
The corn crake is a small, nocturnal bird belonging to the Rallidae family, primarily found in meadows, marshes, grasslands, and agricultural fields. Recognizable by their slender bodies, which measure up to one foot in length, these birds exhibit a striking plumage of black and brown on their backs, with brownish-yellow undersides and distinctive chestnut patches on their wings. Corn crakes are elusive creatures that prefer running through tall grass instead of flying, making them difficult to spot; they are often heard rather than seen, with males known for their characteristic "crek crek" calls during mating season.
These birds primarily feed on seeds, grains, and various invertebrates, such as slugs and snails, but face challenges due to agricultural practices like insecticide use, which can deplete their food sources. Corn crakes migrate from breeding grounds in central Europe and western Asia to wintering habitats in northern and eastern Africa, returning each spring. Their breeding season occurs in May and June, during which females lay 8 to 12 eggs in well-concealed nests. Unfortunately, many corn crake chicks and their mothers fall victim to farming equipment, highlighting the vulnerabilities of this species. Despite their challenges, corn crakes have a lifespan ranging from two to seven years, reflecting their resilience in the wild.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Corn crake
Corn crakes are small nocturnal (active at night) birds often found in meadows, marshes, grasslands, and farmlands. These birds are rarely seen as they run quickly through the tall grass or other vegetation, and may be more often heard uttering their "crek crek" calls, which are characteristic of male birds.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Genus: Crex
Species: Crex
Up to one foot (30 centimeters) long, the slender, trim bodies of the corn crakes have a mixture of black and brown plumage, or feathering, on their backs. Their undersides are brownish yellow with chestnut bars. Chestnut patches decorate their wings, and gray throats and breasts contrast with their brown and black feathers. The crakes weigh only five to seven ounces (140 to 200 grams).
Although their wings span around 1 1/2 feet (45 centimeters), the crakes fly very little. They are a ground-dwelling bird and tend to run quickly through the protective grass, making only rustling noises as they flee from predators, farm machinery, or other danger. They fly slowly and for very short distances only when they are disturbed or when absolutely necessary. Their plumage colors help camouflage the birds in the marshes, grasslands, meadows, and farm fields where they make their homes.
In their open habitats, the corn crakes forage for seeds and grain, as well as for insect prey and their larvae. Small invertebrates, or creatures without backbones, such as slugs, earthworms, snails, millipedes, and spiders also find themselves being snatched and swallowed by the short, stubby bills of the corn crakes. Farmers often use insecticides, or chemicals which kill insects, which are a large portion of the crakes' food supply. Unfortunately, the corn crakes' seed supplies in the farmers' fields are also often contaminated by the insecticides.
Corn crakes can be found throughout central Europe and western Asian during warmers monthswhen they breedand in northern and eastern Africa during winter. Despite rarely flying otherwise, corn crakes migrate to Africa with ease. They return to their breeding grounds by the middle of April. Though they are mostly found in lowlands, they tend to breed in high altitudes.
During the months of May and June the male corn crake mates with the female which he attracted that spring with his loud, rasping, "crek crek" calls. After mating, the female lays 8 to 12 eggs in her nest. She nests alone in the tall grass or in a cornfield. After an incubation period of 19 to 20 days, the chicks hatch from their grayish- green or yellowish-brown shells which have rust, gray, or purple speckles. Three or four days after hatching the chicks are able to find food for themselves. At about four or five weeks of age, the young leave their mother and are able to fly. A number of chicks and their mothers die each year due to mowing and harvesting machines. Because the chicks cannot escape the machinery, and their mothers do not want to leave them, all of them are killed.
The average lifespan of a corn crake is between two and seven years.
Biblography
“Corncrake.” Oiseaux Birds, www.oiseaux-birds.com/card-corncrake.html. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.
Knight, Ron. “Corn Crake.” Animalia, animalia.bio/corn-crake. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.