Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus)

Measurements: 22-24cm long.

A long red bill characterises this widespread species, distinguishing it from all our other rails. It’s a useful tool, one that gives the Water Rail a chance to probe a little beneath the surface of water or mud, and also stab at more mobile prey. This is much the most predatory of our rails, taking not just a wide variety of small animals such as worms, shrimps, insects and molluscs, but also larger creatures, including frogs, small mammals, fish and even birds. These are despatched by fierce stabs behind the head, which paralyse them before they are eaten. The Water Rail also feeds on dead animals, and takes a significant amount of plant material, including berries. Among other feeding methods it has the curious habit of leaping up to a metre above ground to grab insects from surrounding vegetation.

By keith gallie from Warrington, UK – Water rail Rallus aquaticus, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64240414

Of all our truly secretive rails, the Water Rail occupies the broadest range of habitats, and is the least migratory. Almost any marshy ground with suitably dense vegetation will suffice, so long as there is some standing or slow-flowing water and open mud. Suitable sites may simply be narrow strips within in completely different habitat, and they are often used all year round. Being highly territorial in summer and winter, the Water Rail gets to know its patch well, sometimes wearing its own system of tiny tunnels through the stems of vegetation, a maze leading to favoured feeding sites.

By gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K – Rallus aquaticus. Water Rail, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63756428

Water Rails have loud voices and a rich vocabulary. The best known sound is the male’s advertising call, which sounds like the grunting and squealing of a pig. When Water Rails meet they have an engaging courtship display, in which the male nods its head down, lifts its tail up, and raises its wings to show the black-and-white pattern underneath.