Brown Crake Zapornia akool Scientific name definitions

26–28 cm; male 114–170 g, female 110–140 g. Very plain with olive brown upperparts , white throat , dark slate grey underparts shading to olive brown from belly to undertail-coverts, and indistinct pale supercilium. Sexes alike; female averages smaller. Smaller sympatric Z. bicolor has rufous brown upperparts contrasting with grey head, neck and underparts; tail black; also differs in bare part colours. Immature similar to adult but with brown iris. Juvenile not described. Race <em>coccineipes</em> larger, with brighter, redder legs.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Dense swamps, Pandanus palm groves, sugar cane fields, riparian reedbeds and other dense herbage, and irrigation channels. Occurs from lowlands up to 800 m, possibly higher.

Worms, molluscs, adult and larval insects, and seeds of marsh plants. Largely crepuscular, emerging cautiously at edges of reedbeds and bushes to feed in early morning and evening.

Short plaintive note  , heard at daybreak and just before sunset; shrill rattle (attributed to this species but not proved); and long vibrating whistle, gradually falling in pitch.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Infrequently seen because of its shy and secretive nature, but formerly regarded as fairly common throughout range; no information available on current status.