corncrake

n.
A common Eurasian bird (Crex crex) with a short bill and brownish-yellow plumage, found in grain fields and meadows.

Crex crex

SUBFAMILY

Rallinae

TAXONOMY

Rallus crex Linnaeus, 1758, Sweden. Monotypic.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

French: Râle des genêts; German: Wachtelkönig; Spanish: Guión de Codornices.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

10.6–12 in (27–30 cm); 4.6–7.4 oz (129–210 g). Streaked upperparts, tawny upperwing-coverts, barred flanks and blue-gray face, foreneck, and breast. Juvenile duller, with no gray.

DISTRIBUTION

Breeds in Europe and central Asia, east to western China and central Siberia; winters in Africa, mainly from Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire) and southern Tanzania south to eastern South Africa.

HABITAT

Breeds mainly in grass meadows; winters in grassland and savanna.

BEHAVIOR

Most active at dawn and dusk. Breeding male's rasping "krekkrek" call given all night.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Many invertebrates; also seeds and grass blades. Normally forages within cover.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Serial polygyny regular, males mating with two or more females. Breeds April and August. Nest a cup of vegetation on the ground in dense vegetation. Eggs six to 14 (usually eight to 12); incubation 16–20 days, by female only; chicks independent at 10–20 days, fledged at 34–38 days. One to two broods per season; breeding success low on agricultural land.

CONSERVATION STATUS

In 1999 a total of 1.7–3 million singing males estimated. Western European populations declined rapidly during the twentieth century due to changing grassland management. Considered Vulnerable because of the potential for similar widespread land-use changes in its eastern European strongholds.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

Some migrating birds are trapped for food.

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: common Eurasian rail that frequents grain fields
  Synonyms: land rail, Crex crex

---

Dansk (Danish)
n. - engsnarre

Nederlands (Dutch)
kwartelkoning

Français (French)
n. - râle des genêts

Deutsch (German)
n. - Wachtelkönig

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (ορνιθ.) ορτυκομάνα

Italiano (Italian)
re di quaglie

Português (Portuguese)
n. - codornizão (m) (Ornit.)

Русский (Russian)
коростель

Español (Spanish)
n. - rey de codornices

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - kornknarr (zool.), ängsknarr (zool.)

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
秧鸡

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 秧雞

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 흰눈섭뜸부기

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - ウズラクイナ

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) نوع من الطيور‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮מלכי-שליו (עוף)‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.