Australian Crake

Porzana fluminea

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots · Gruiformes · Uncommon

The Australian Crake (Porzana fluminea) is a uncommon rails, gallinules, and coot found only in Australia, weighing about 61 g. The Australian crake , also known as Australian spotted crake, or spotted crake is a species of bird in the family Rallidae.

Least ConcernUncommonEndemicEats omnivorewetlanddome nest61 g

About the Australian Crake

The Australian crake , also known as Australian spotted crake, or spotted crake is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is the only species of Australian crake in the genus Porzana.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

The Australian crake measures 19–23 cm (7.5–9.1 in) in length, weighs 55–70 g (1.9–2.5 oz) and has a wingspan of 27–33 cm (11–13 in). It is similar in appearance and behaviour to Baillon's crake (Porzana pusilla), but the Australian crake is stockier and darker overall and lacks the distinctive barred undertail of the Baillon's crake (Porzana pusilla). The Australian crake has a sooty face with steel-blue/dark grey breast, belly and throat. Brown upperparts, including the crown, are streaked black and white, with barred black and white flanks.

Where it lives

When to see it

Best months: January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in January. It is a variable species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify an Australian Crake?
The Australian crake measures 19–23 cm (7.5–9.1 in) in length, weighs 55–70 g (1.9–2.5 oz) and has a wingspan of 27–33 cm (11–13 in). Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is an Australian Crake?
The Australian Crake is a medium sized bird weighing about 61 g.
Where can you see an Australian Crake?
The Australian Crake is endemic to Australia, which is the only country where it occurs.
What birds look similar to an Australian Crake?
The Australian Crake is most easily confused with the Spotted Crake and the Sora.
Is the Australian Crake endangered?
The Australian Crake is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Australian Crake for real

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