Black Crake
Amaurornis flavirostra
Inland waters. Small size, yellow bill and red legs. Walks on floating vegetation.
Crakes, Flufftails, Rails
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Common resident. Unmistakable with red legs and bright yellow bill. Immature is a duller version of the adult, with dark bill and legs. The call is an explosive, harsh ‘rr-rr-rr’ ending in a resonant croak; also various clucking sounds. Single birds or scattered individuals at the waterside on quiet rivers, lakes, dams and floodplains, or walking on floating vegetation. Not secretive.
Quick Facts
Size
20-23 cm - M
Names
A: Swartriethaan
Z: isiqhanazana
Ss: Kgoholelhaka E Nthso
G: Mohrenralle, Negerralle
Bird Family
Small birds associated with wetlands. They are highly secretive and difficult to flush, but once airborne fly a short distance with legs dangling before dropping back into cover; they can seldom be flushed a second time. Calls are usually the only indication of a species' presence. Crakes and rails have mostly cryptic colouring. The minute flufftails or pygmy crakes show marked sexual dimorphism.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
