Baillon's crake

Baillon's Crake, also known as the Marsh Crake, is a small waterbird belonging to the Rallidae family. These petite birds typically nest in sedge beds across eastern Europe and the Palearctic region. While they formerly bred in Great Britain, their numbers declined in western Europe due to habitat drainage. Recently, however, there has been a positive trend, with these birds making a comeback in northwestern Europe, including new sightings in Germany and the Netherlands, and possible breeding activity in Britain. They usually lay 4-8 eggs in dry spots within wet sedge bogs and migrate to East Africa and South Asia for the winter.

Beyond Europe, Baillon's Crakes also breed in Africa and Australasia. Notably, there is only one recorded sighting of this species in North America, on Attu Island. These birds measure 16-18 cm in length and bear a resemblance to the slightly larger Little Crake. They are characterized by a short, straight bill, brown upperparts adorned with white markings, a blue-grey face and underparts, and green legs equipped with long toes. Juveniles display more barred underparts, while the chicks are black. They feed on insects and aquatic creatures, probing mud or shallow water for sustenance.

During the breeding season, Baillon's Crakes are quite secretive and more often heard than seen, emitting a rattling call similar to that of an Edible Frog. They are easier to spot during migration or in their wintering grounds. Named after the French naturalist Louis Antoine François Baillon, they are sometimes referred to as the Marsh Crake or Tiny Crake. The genus name Porzana originates from Venetian terms for small rails, and pusillus means "very small" in Latin.

The conservation status of Baillon's Crake varies globally. They are protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA). In Australia, they are not listed as threatened under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. However, their status differs between states. For example, in Victoria, they are listed as vulnerable on the 2007 advisory list of threatened vertebrate fauna. Unfortunately, no Action Statement for their recovery and management has been developed under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988).