Water Rail (Pyrenees' Biodiversity)

Water Rail

Rallus aquaticus

Summary ⁷

The Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) is a bird of the rail family which breeds in well-vegetated wetlands across Europe, Asia and North Africa. Northern and eastern populations are migratory, but this species is a permanent resident in the warmer parts of its breeding range. The adult is 23–28 cm (9–11 in) long, and, like other rails, has a body that is flattened laterally, allowing it easier passage through the reed beds it inhabits. It has mainly brown upperparts...

Taxon biology ⁸

With their long legs and flattened body, water rails can easily move around in dense reed vegetation. They live very withdrawn and are rarely seen. However, they are noisy birds, making all kinds of sounds, including that of a squealing piglet. Water rails hide their nest in the reed, sometimes breeding twice a year. In that case, they make an entirely new nest and move the first generation to the new home.