Rallus aquaticus (Water Rail)

Water Rail

Rallus aquaticus Linnaeus, C 1758

The water rail 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, allowing 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. 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. The former subspecies R. indicus, has distinctive markings and a call that is very different from the pig-like squeal of the western races, and is now usually split as a separate species, the brown-cheeked rail. Source: Wikipedia

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Classification

Order:
  Gruiformes
Family:
  Rallidae
Genus:
   Rallus
Scientific:
  Rallus aquaticus

Original description

Citation:
Linnaeus, C 1758

Reference:
Systema Naturae ed. 10 1 p.153

Protonym:
Rallus aquaticus

Type locality:
Europe, restricted type locality. Great Britain.

Link:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/10277#page/172/mode/1up

Avibase identifiers

Avibase ID:
DE1D2DF4456931FF

Avibase ID:
avibase-DE1D2DF4

Short link:
https://avibase.ca/DE1D2DF4

Taxonomic Serial Number:
TSN: 176223

Geographic range:

Rallus aquaticus aquaticus: Western Palearctic
Rallus aquaticus hibernans: Iceland; possibly extinct
Rallus aquaticus korejewi: Iran to northwestern China; winters to India and southern China

Source: Clements checklist

English:
Water Rail
Catalan:
Rascló occidental
Czech:
Chřástal vodní
Danish:
Vandrikse
German:
Wasserralle
Spanish:
Rascón Europeo
Spanish (Spain):
Rascón Europeo
Finnish:
Luhtakana
French:
Râle d'eau
Croatian:
Kokošica
Hungarian:
Guvat
Icelandic:
Keldusvín
Italian:
Porciglione
Japanese (romaji):
yo-roppakuina
Japanese:
ヨーロッパクイナ
Lithuanian:
Ilgasnapė vištelė
Dutch:
Waterral
Norwegian Nynorsk:
Vassrikse
Norwegian:
Vannrikse
Polish:
wodnik
Portuguese:
Frango-d'água
Portuguese (Portugal):
frango-d'água-europeu
Russian:
Водяной пастушок
Slovak:
chriašteľ vodný
Serbian:
barski petlovan
Swedish:
vattenrall
Ukrainian:
Пастушок
Chinese:
西方秧鸡
Chinese (Traditional):
西方秧雞

Authorities recognizing this taxonomic concept:

American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 58th suppl.): Western Water-Rail ( Rallus aquaticus)
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 59th suppl.): Western Water-Rail ( Rallus aquaticus)
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 60th suppl.): Western Water-Rail ( Rallus aquaticus)
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 61st suppl.): Western Water-Rail ( Rallus aquaticus)
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 61st suppl. and addendum): Western Water-Rail ( Rallus aquaticus)
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 62nd suppl.): Western Water-Rail ( Rallus aquaticus)
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 63rd suppl.): Western Water-Rail ( Rallus aquaticus)
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 64th suppl.): Western Water-Rail ( Rallus aquaticus)
American Ornithologists' Society 7th edition (incl. 65th suppl.): Western Water-Rail ( Rallus aquaticus)
Avibase taxonomic concepts (current): Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2023 (May 2023): Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2024 (Oct 2024): Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 01 (August 2013): Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 02 (May 2014): Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 03 (March 2015): Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 04 (Aug 2016): Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 05 (Jan 2017): Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 06 (Feb 2018): Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 07 (Feb 2020): Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 08 (Feb 2021): Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 07 (Jul 2014): Western Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 08 (Oct 2015): Western Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 09 (Dec 2016): Western Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Birdlife checklist version 09.1 (Jun 2017): Western Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v2 (Dec 2017): Western Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v3 (Nov 2018): Western Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v4 (Dec 2019): Western Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v5 (Dec 2020): Western Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v6 (Dec 2021): Western Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v6b (Jul 2022): Western Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v7 (Dec 2022): Western Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v8 (Dec 2023): Western Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v9 (Oct 2024): Western Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
British Ornithologists' Union Checklist (7th edition): Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus)
British Ornithologists' Union Checklist (7th edition, incl. Jan 2009 suppl.): Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus)
Clements, version 2021: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Clements, version 2022: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Clements, version 2023: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Clements, version 2024: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.6 incl. 2011 revisions): Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.7 incl. 2012 revisions): Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.8 incl. 2013 revisions): Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Clements 6th edition (version 6.9 incl. 2014 revisions): Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Clements, version 2015: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Clements, version 2016: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Clements, version 2017: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Clements, version 2018: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Clements, version 2019: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
eBird version 1.52: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
eBird version 1.53: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
eBird version 1.54: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
eBird version 1.55: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
eBird version 2015: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
eBird version 2016: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
eBird version 2017: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
eBird version 2018: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
eBird version 2019: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
eBird version 2021: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
eBird version 2022: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
eBird version 2023: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
eBird version 2024: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 4th edition (vol. 1-2): Western Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Howard and Moore 4th edition (incl. corrigenda vol.1-2): Western Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (31/01/2015): Western Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (03/07/2017): Western Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Dec 2017): Western Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Dec 2018): Western Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.6: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.7: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.0: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.1: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.2: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.3: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.4: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.5: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.6: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.7: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.8: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.9: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.10: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.11: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.1: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.2: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.3: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.4: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.5: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.1: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.2: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.3: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.4: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.1: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.2: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.3: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.4: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.1: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.2: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.3: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.4: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.1: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.2: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.3: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.1: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.2: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.1: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.2: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.1: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.2: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.1: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.2: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.1: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.2: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.1: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.2: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.1: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.2: Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus) [version 1]
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource: Rallus aquaticus [version 1]

Taxonomic status:

Species status: full species (sometimes nominal subspecies)

This taxon is considered a subspecies of Rallus [aquaticus or indicus] (sensu lato) by some authors

Your sightings

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Related taxa

Highlight taxa in a checklist (shown in red)

Other synonyms

See also the taxonomic synonyms table.

Afrikaans: Waterral
Arabic: مرعة الماء, مرعة ماء
Asturian: Gallineta Rial, Rincha europea
Azerbaijani: adi sufərəsi, Su fərəsi, sufərəsi
Bashkir: көтөүсе, көтөүсе тартай , һыу тауығы, тәтелдәгәс
Belarusian: Пастушок
Bulgarian: Крещалец
Bengali: পান্তা ঝিল্লি, ঩াো চঝচি
Bengali (transliteration): pāntā jhilli
Breton: Ar rakig-dour, Rakig-dour
Catalan: Rascló, Rascló europeu, Rascló occidental
Catalan (Balears): Rascló.
Valencian: Grua damisel·la
Montenegrin: barski pjeltlovan, barski pjetlovan, барски пјетлован
Montenegrin (Cyrillic): барски пјетлован
Czech: Chrástal vodní, Chřástal vodní
Chuvash: ахаль шыв автанĕ, ахаль шывавтань
Welsh: Rhegen ddŵr, Rhegen y Dŵr
Danish: Vandrikse
German: Wasserralle
Greek: (Ευρωπαϊκή) Νεροκοτσέλα, Μαυροπουλλάδα, Νερoκoτσέλα, Νεροκοτσέλα
Greek (Cypriot): Μαυροπουλλάδα
English: Water Rail, Western Water Rail, Western Water-Rail
English, HBW: Western Water Rail
English (IOC): Water Rail
English (United States): Water Rail
Esperanto: Akva ralo, akvoralo
Spanish: Rascón Europeo
Spanish (Spain): Rascón Europeo
Spanish (HBW): Rascón europeo
Estonian: Rooruik
Basque: Uroilanda handi, Uroilanda handia
Persian: یلوه آبی, یلوۀ آبی
Finnish: Luhtakana
Faroese: Jarðakona, jarðarkona
French: Râle d’eau, Râle d'eau
Friulian: gjarigule
Frisian: Wetterhintsje
Irish: Ralóg Uisce, Rálóg uisce
Gaelic: Snagan Allt
Galician: Rascón, Zurrasca, Zurrasca común
Manx: Drean Ushtey, Ushag ny shast
Hebrew: רלית, רלית המים
Croatian: Kokošica
Hungarian: Guvat
Armenian: Ջրահովվիկ
Icelandic: Keldusvín
Italian: Porciglione, Porciglione eurasiatico
Japanese (romaji): yo-roppakuina
Japanese: クイナ, ヨーロッパクイナ
Georgian: ლაინა, ლაინი
Kabardian: псыпцӀэджэд
Kazakh: Сутартар
Korean: 회색가슴뜸부기, 흰눈썹뜸부기
North Karelian: luhtakana
Cornish: Crek dowr
Kirghiz: кызыл тумшук суу тартар, суутартар
Scientific: Rallus aquaticus, Rallus aquaticus aquaticus, Rallus sericeus
Luxembourgish: Waasserrall
Limburgish: Jófferkraan
Lithuanian: Ilgasnape vištele, Ilgasnapė vištelė
Latvian: dumbracālis, Dumbrcālis
Macedonian: барска кокошка, Блатна (Барска) кокошка
Mongolian: Түнжүүр, Усны түнжүүр
Moldavian: Cârstel de baltă, Cucorul mic
Maltese: Gallozz tax-Xitwa
Nepali: कुलावारी
Dutch: Waterral
Norwegian Nynorsk: Vassrikse
Norwegian: Vannrikse
Polish: wodnik, wodnik (zwyczajny)
Portuguese: Frango-d'água
Portuguese (Portugal): Frango-d'água, frango-d'água-europeu
Romansh: Ralla da l'aua
Rhaeto-Romance: Ralla da l’aua
Romanian: Cârstel de baltă
Russian: Водяной пастушок, Пастушок
Yakut: боҕурҕана, буҕарҕана5
Scots: Snagan allt
Northern Sami: Čáhcevuonccis
Sinhalese (Transliteration): Diya Reluwa
Slovak: chriašteľ vodný
Slovenian: Mokož
Albanian: Gjeli i ujit, Gjelujsi
Serbian: barski petlovan
Swedish: Vattenrall
Thai: นกอัญชันอกสีไพล
Turkmen: bukanja ýelbe, bukyja ýelwe
Turkish: Su kılavuzu, Sukılavuzu
Tatar: саз көтүчесе
Tuvinian: Кадарчы, кадарчы кадарчылар кадарчызы
Udmurt: ӵажы, чажы
Ukrainian: Пастушок, Пастушок водяний
Uzbek: оддий сувмошак, пастушок, сувмошак
Vietnamese: Gà nước ấn độ
Kalmyk: туңһур, цондл
Chinese: 普通秧鸡, 西方秧鸡
Chinese (Traditional): 普通秧雞〔西方秧雞〕, 西方秧雞
Chinese (Taiwan): 秧雞