Photo: Edward Neale / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Brown-cheeked Rail
Rallus indicus
Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus) — Cranes & Rails of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus) is a member of the Rallidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 104 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 Rallus
- Species indicus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 104 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Rallidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Brown-cheeked Rail hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Brown-cheeked Rail is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus) belongs to the Rallidae family of the order Gruiformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL e Siberia to Japan.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 104 g, with a wing length of about 12.4 cm and a tail of around 4.9 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 2.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Brown-cheeked Rail?
The Brown-cheeked Rail is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 104 g.
Where does the Brown-cheeked Rail live?
The Brown-cheeked Rail is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL e Siberia to Japan, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Brown-cheeked Rail belong to?
The Brown-cheeked Rail (Rallus indicus) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the Brown-cheeked Rail eat?
The Brown-cheeked Rail hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Brown-cheeked Rail migrate?
The Brown-cheeked Rail is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Brown-cheeked 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 Brown-cheeked Rail make?
1 real field recording of the Brown-cheeked Rail — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Brown-cheeked Rail's range?
The Brown-cheeked Rail has a mapped global range of about 2.9 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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