Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Zapornia paykullii
Family: Rails, Gallinules, and Coots · Status: Vagrant · Size: 27 cm · Conservation: Near Threatened
Breeds mainly in northeastern China, parts of the Russian Far East, and the Korean Peninsula. Migrates through eastern China, wintering in Indochina, the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. Due to the rarity of this species and its skulky habits, the range of this species is patchy and poorly known.
Resembles Ruddy-breasted Crake but has a greyer back, lighter brown face and underparts, a stronger, thicker, and shorter bill, duller red (or even grey) legs, and more extensive black and white barring on the vent extending up to the lower belly. Some individuals have narrow whitish and dark bars on primary wing coverts that are sometimes only visible with wings spread. Juvenile has paler head-sides and breast, and browner legs than adult. Red-legged Crake is overall redder, with more boldly barred wings, and red legs. Slaty-legged Crake has brighter orange face and underparts with grey legs, and a finer bill.
Freshwater wetlands with dense grassy cover.
As with most crakes and rails, extremely skulky, typically found foraging near freshwater by tall grass.