Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-tailed Crake
Zapornia bicolor
Black-tailed Crake (Zapornia bicolor) — Cranes & Rails of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-tailed Crake (Zapornia bicolor) is a member of the Rallidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 57.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Gruiformes
- Family Rallidae Rails, Crakes & Coots
- Genus Zapornia
- Species bicolor
Quick facts
- Weight
- 57.3 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Rallidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-tailed Crake is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Black-tailed Crake is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-tailed Crake (Zapornia bicolor) is a species of bird in the Rallidae family, part of the order Gruiformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR ne India to sc China.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 57.3 g, with a wing length of about 11 cm and a tail of around 5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-tailed Crake?
The Black-tailed Crake is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 57.3 g.
Where does the Black-tailed Crake live?
The Black-tailed Crake is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR ne India to sc China, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-tailed Crake belong to?
The Black-tailed Crake (Zapornia bicolor) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the Black-tailed Crake eat?
The Black-tailed Crake is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Black-tailed Crake migrate?
The Black-tailed Crake is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-tailed Crake 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 Black-tailed Crake make?
1 real field recording of the Black-tailed Crake — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-tailed Crake's range?
The Black-tailed Crake has a mapped global range of about 1.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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