Photo: Ivan Medenica / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Little Crake
Zapornia parva
Little Crake (Zapornia parva) — Cranes & Rails of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 17 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Little Crake (Zapornia parva) is a member of the Rallidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 49.7 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 parva
Quick facts
- Weight
- 49.7 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Rallidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Little Crake hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Little Crake is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Little Crake (Zapornia parva) belongs to the Rallidae family of the order Gruiformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL s and c Europe to nw China.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 49.7 g, with a wing length of about 10.1 cm and a tail of around 5.3 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 6.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Little Crake?
The Little Crake is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 49.7 g.
Where does the Little Crake live?
The Little Crake is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL s and c Europe to nw China, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Little Crake belong to?
The Little Crake (Zapornia parva) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the Little Crake eat?
The Little Crake hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Little Crake migrate?
The Little Crake is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Little 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 Little Crake make?
1 real field recording of the Little 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 Little Crake's range?
The Little Crake has a mapped global range of about 6.8 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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