Water rail
The water rail is a secretive bird found primarily in marsh habitats across Europe, Asia, and North America. Measuring between nine to twelve inches in length and weighing three to five ounces, this bird features distinctive mixed brown and black plumage on its back, with gray on its head and belly, and striking red eyes and bill. Known for its elusive nature, the water rail often remains motionless when threatened, opting to run for cover rather than fly. Its diet consists of various aquatic organisms, including worms, leeches, insects, and even small fish, which it captures using its specialized long, slender bill.
Water rails engage in a unique courtship ritual between April and July, with both male and female participating in nest building and chick rearing. They construct cup-shaped nests amidst reeds, where the female lays eggs, and both parents take turns incubating them. The chicks hatch after about three weeks and are quickly fed by their parents, learning to fend for themselves shortly after. Although not endangered, water rails face declining populations due to habitat loss from wetland drainage. Their characteristic calls resemble pig-like grunts, adding to the bird's intriguing presence in its natural environment.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Water rail
The water rail is an elusive bird, rarely seen in the marsh habitats where it wades and forages for food. Its calls have been likened to pig-like grunts and squeals. It tends to become motionless and then to run for cover rather than flying away when threatened.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Genus: Rallus
Species: Aquaticus
The water rail can be found throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. Adult water rails grow to be nine to twelve inches (22 to 30 centimeters) long and weigh between three and five ounces (85 to 140 grams). It has mixed brown and black plumage, or feathering, on its back and wings. Gray plumage covers the sides of its head, its throat, and down to its belly. A dark black pupil sits in the middle of each bright red eye, which is the same color as the bird's red bill.
The short wings of the water rail allow it to fly, but it tends to walk and run more often. It is able to move its stout, strong legs and slender body quickly through dense vegetation. The water rail is also able to perch on the tips of stems and reeds, even though it has very large feet. In its watery habitat, the water rail swims short distances but also tries to stay close to places to hide. Whether on land or in water, danger or disturbances may cause the water rail to become motionless and then to scurry for cover.
In marsh habitats, the water rail forages for delicacies like worms and leeches, which it finds by probing into the mud with its long, slender, red bill. The same bill is a strong tool for cracking the shells of insects and freshwater crayfish and shrimp. The bird is also quick enough to seize small fish. Even small birds, which the rail drowns, may form part of the diet of this hunter. It also eats roots, berries, seeds, and grain.
The male and female water rails mate between April and July. Before mating, the female courts the male by making soft crooning noises and running toward and then away from the male. When she walks around him and rubs her bill against his, he responds by preening her neck feathers. After mating, the female lays her eggs over a few days in the cup-shaped nest which the two of them have built together. It is five to six inches (12 to 15 centimeters) across and made of reeds, sedges, and leaves. The female chooses a nest site among reeds and thick grass at or near water level. A canopy, or covering, of reeds hides the nest with the mother and her eggs. After three weeks of incubation by both male and female, the chicks hatch from their cream-colored shells, which have purple or reddish-brown spots. Both parents feed grubs, spiders, dragonfly larvae, and freshwater shrimp to the young rails. The chicks receive food from their parents every 10 minutes at first, and then they learn to feed themselves. It appears that the parents have favorites among the chicks. A parent may pick up a chick which is not favored and shake it by its head before dropping it back into the water. The chicks grow quickly and leave the nest soon after hatching. At seven or eight weeks of age, they have all their feathers. The young are able to mate when they are one year old.
Loud pig-like squeals and grunts are common sounds for water rails, whether the birds are living alone or in pairs. The lifespan of water rails is typically around three years. Although they are not an endangered species, their population and range have been decreasing due to the draining of their wetland habitats.
Bibliography
“Water Rail.” eBird, ebird.org/species/watrai1. Accessed 20 May 2024.
“Water rail.” Animalia, www.animalia.bio/water-rail. Accessed 20 May 2024.
“Water Rail Bird Facts - Rallus Aquaticus.” The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/water-rail. Accessed 20 May 2024.
“Water Rail - Rallus aquaticus.” NatureSpot, www.naturespot.org.uk/species/water-rail. Accessed 20 May 2024.