Spotted Crake
Spotted Crake
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The Spotted Crake is a small, secretive waterbird with a distinctive 'whiplash' call. Its plumage is a mosaic of olive-brown with white spots, and it features a yellow bill with a red base.
Where to spot
Breeds across much of Europe and Western Asia, migrating to Africa and parts of Southern Asia for winter. Favors shallow freshwater wetlands, marshes, reedbeds, and bogs with open water patches.
How to spot
Listen carefully for its distinctive 'huit-huit' or 'whiplash' call. To spot it, be patient and stake out areas where its calls are heard, waiting for it to briefly emerge from cover at the water's edge. Look for its small size, spotted back, and yellow bill with a red base.
When to spot
Best observed during the breeding season (spring to early summer) when males are most vocal, particularly at dawn and dusk. Migration periods can also offer opportunities at stopover sites.
Where to spot
Breeds across much of Europe and Western Asia, migrating to Africa and parts of Southern Asia for winter. Favors shallow freshwater wetlands, marshes, reedbeds, and bogs with open water patches.
How to spot
Listen carefully for its distinctive 'huit-huit' or 'whiplash' call. To spot it, be patient and stake out areas where its calls are heard, waiting for it to briefly emerge from cover at the water's edge. Look for its small size, spotted back, and yellow bill with a red base.
When to spot
Best observed during the breeding season (spring to early summer) when males are most vocal, particularly at dawn and dusk. Migration periods can also offer opportunities at stopover sites.
Credits:
Hennie Cuper
Credits:
Hennie Cuper
The Spotted Crake's unique 'whiplash' call is so characteristic that it's often the only indication of its presence in dense wetland vegetation, as the bird itself is rarely seen.
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