Slaty-legged Crake

Scientific Name: Rallina eurizonoides
Malay Name: Sintar-Merah Kaki Kelabu
Chinese Name: 白喉斑秧鸡

Range:
Found from Pakistan, India, Southern China to Japan and also in the Philippines. Some populations winter to mainland Southeast Asia, Sumatra and Java.

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: amauroptera, telmatophila, sepiaria, alvarezi, formosana, eurizonoides, minahasa.

Local Subspecies: telmatophila

Size: 26-28 cm

Identification:
Resembles Red-legged Crake but is larger and considerably larger-billed, has duller brown upperparts (except head and neck), more rufous-chestnut head, neck and breast, whitish throat that contrasts sharply with head-sides and dark slaty-grey legs. Juvenile resembles adult but has paler brown upperparts, head, neck and breast.

Similar looking species: Red-legged Crake

Habitat: Streams and wet areas in forest and also freshwater wetlands and gardens on passage.

Behaviour/Ecology: Often calls at night.

Local Status: Very rare migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2020)

Featured reports: Dec 2022

Past accepted records in our database:

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Juvenile Slaty-legged Crake at Jurong Island on 21 Nov 2015. Photo Credit: Lim Kim Chuah

Juvenile Slaty-legged Crake at Kaeng Krachan National Park. Photo credits: Johnson Sia aka Mahi Mahi

Adult Slaty-legged Crake at Kaeng Krachan National Park. Photo credits: Johnson Sia aka Mahi Mahi

Slaty-legged Crake at Haig Court condominium. Photo credit: Goh Cheng Teng