Photo: J.M.Garg / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-breasted Waterhen
Amaurornis phoenicurus
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) — Cranes & Rails of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) is a member of the Rallidae family found in Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 180 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 Amaurornis
- Species phoenicurus
Where it lives
Pakistan and Maldives through eastern China, Philippines, Wallacea and Indonesian Arch.
Quick facts
- Weight
- 180 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Rallidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-breasted Waterhen hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The White-breasted Waterhen is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) is a species of bird in the Rallidae family, part of the order Gruiformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR, AU Pakistan and Maldives through e China, Philippines, Wallacea and Indonesian Arch.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 180 g, with a wing length of about 14.7 cm and a tail of around 5.8 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 9.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-breasted Waterhen?
The White-breasted Waterhen is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 180 g.
Where does the White-breasted Waterhen live?
The White-breasted Waterhen is found across Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR, AU Pakistan and Maldives through e China, Philippines, Wallacea and Indonesian Arch, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the White-breasted Waterhen belong to?
The White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the White-breasted Waterhen eat?
The White-breasted Waterhen hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the White-breasted Waterhen migrate?
The White-breasted Waterhen is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-breasted Waterhen 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 White-breasted Waterhen make?
1 real field recording of the White-breasted Waterhen — 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 White-breasted Waterhen's range?
The White-breasted Waterhen has a mapped global range of about 9.8 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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