Watercock

Latin Name:

Gallicrex cinerea

Category:

Size:

36cm

Description:

A huge, chicken-like crake. In breeding plumage, the male is mainly blackish in colour with brownish feather edgings to upperparts; red legs with orange bill with upstanding red shield. Otherwise resembles immature and smaller female which is variably barred brown, darker above with greenish legs and yellowish bill.

Habitat:

Inhabits extensive reedbeds, marshes and wet paddy. Also tidal estuaries when migrating. Crepuscular and secretive but sometimes seen in flight.

Distribution:

Generally a scarce local migrant throughout lowlands, breeding mainly in the Northeast and Bangladesh and in Sri Lanka. Also occurs in E and SE Asia.