Water Rail

By Jesse Russell

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles 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 to allow it easier passage through the reed beds it inhabits. It has mainly brown upperparts and blue-grey underparts, black barring on the flanks, long toes, a short tail and a long reddish bill. The eastern subspecies, R. a. indicus, has distinctive markings and a call that is very different from the pig-like squeal of the western races, and is sometimes split as a separate species. Immature birds are generally similar in appearance to the adults, but the blue-grey in the plumage is replaced by buff. The downy chicks are black, as with all rails.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 5510548479
• ISBN13: 9785510548471
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Book on Demand Ltd.
• Length: 82 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 8.3" x 11.0"