Water Rail
Rallus aquaticus

>> GENERAL >>>>>

– medium-sized rail, much smaller than Eurasian Coot
– nocturnal migrant
– migrates singly

>> VISUAL ID >>>>>

birds in flight not yet photographed –

>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>

– at least two different calls can be heard during migration
– a screechy, 0.5-0.6s long monophonic, monotone typical rail-like call
– the second call is a combination of short over- and downslurred rail-like bursts
– a ‘stuttering’ impression due to the slow repetition
– both calls with dense inharmonic partials


Water Rail Rallus a. aquaticus, call in flight
BIF2972, 18/03/2017, Wilsen, Germany, Roland Neumann


Water Rail Rallus a. aquaticus, call in flight
BIF2988, 18/03/2017, Wilsen, Germany, Roland Neumann


Water Rail Rallus a. aquaticus, call in flight
BIF2989, 30/03/2017, Wilsen, Germany, Roland Neumann


Water Rail Rallus a. aquaticus, call in flight
BIF2990, 13/04/2018, Hooksiel, Germany, Roland Neumann



Water Rail Rallus a. aquaticus, call in flight
BIF2991, 15/04/2018, Wilsen, Germany, Roland Neumann


Water Rail Rallus a. aquaticus, call in flight
– detail–

BIF2991, 15/04/2018, Wilsen, Germany, Roland Neumann


Water Rail Rallus a. aquaticus, call in flight
BIF2992, 16/04/2018, Wilsen, Germany, Roland Neumann


Water Rail Rallus a. aquaticus, call in flight
– detail –

BIF2992, 16/04/2018, Wilsen, Germany, Roland Neumann

>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>

Common Moorhen (a)
Eurasian Coot (a)

#waterbird

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