Photo: Alexis Lours / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Cranes & Rails

Water Rail

Rallus aquaticus

Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) — Cranes & Rails of Europe & Northern Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 11 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of England Birds of Bedfordshire Birds of Buckinghamshire Birds of South Yorkshire Birds of Berkshire Birds of Bristol Birds of Cambridgeshire Birds of Cheshire Birds of Cumbria Birds of Cornwall

By family

Rails, Crakes & Coots of England

See what's near you right now

The Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) is a member of the Rallidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 111 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Gruiformes
Family Rallidae Rails, Crakes & Coots
Genus Rallus
Species aquaticus

Where it lives

Western Europe to central Asia

Europe & Northern Asia

Quick facts

Weight: 111 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Rallidae
Order: Gruiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Spotted Rail

Pardirallus maculatus

Least Concern

Brown-cheeked Rail

Rallus indicus

Critically Endangered

Guam Rail

Gallirallus owstoni

Vulnerable

Bogota Rail

Rallus semiplumbeus

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Water Rail hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Water Rail is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) is a member of the Rallidae family, within the order Gruiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL w Europe to c Asia.

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 111 g, with a wing length of about 11.4 cm and a tail of around 5.1 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 12.4 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Water Rail — Call, flight call, nocturnal flight call

Recorded by Mark James Pearson Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Water Rail?

The Water Rail is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 111 g.

Where does the Water Rail live?

The Water Rail is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL w Europe to c Asia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Water Rail belong to?

The Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.

What does the Water Rail eat?

The Water Rail hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Water Rail migrate?

The Water Rail is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Water Rail endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Water Rail make?

1 real field recording of the Water Rail — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Water Rail's range?

The Water Rail has a mapped global range of about 12.4 million km².