Bird guideBaillon's Crake

Baillon's crakes are very secretive in the breeding season, and are then mostly heard rather than seen.

⚠️Not listed
🍃Indigenous: Marsh Crake, Little Crake, Little Water Crake

At a glance

FamilyRails, Gallinules, and Coots
SizeSmall
RarityCommon
Habitatopen woodland, sparse woodland, grassland, herbaceous graminoids sparse hummock grasses, and closed forest
Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from October to January.

Sounds

Sound sample
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Recorded by Sophie REVERDIAU

Range map

Range map

971visible hotspots
18951visible records
6states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Usually retiring and rarely seen, but can be confiding. Although unmistakeable in parts of its range, it can sometimes co-occur with the similar Little Crake. Best told by its shorter wings, short, greenish bill that lacks red base and barred flanks; juvenile darker and more extensively barred below than juvenile Little Crake.

Behavior

Tiny crake that breeds in wet sedge marshes and bogs; migrants can be in any marshy habitat.

Regional timing

New South Wales
Peak: September to October5,089 records
Victoria
Peak: October to January6,802 records
South Australia
Peak: October to January1,008 records
Queensland
Peak: September to October2,860 records
Western Australia
Peak: January1,019 records
Tasmania
Peak: January to February60 records
Northern Territory
Peak: August156 records
Australian Capital Territory
Peak: October to January1,994 records

Commonly confused with

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