Watercock

Watercock

Scientific Name: Gallicrex cinerea

Malay Name: Ayam-ayam Tanduk

Chinese Name: 董鸡

Range: Found from Indian subcontinent to southern China, Japan and Southeast Asia. Northern populations winter to Southeast Asia.

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: M:41-43 cm, F:31-36 cm

Identification: Non-breeding male and female have buff brown plumage with bold dark streaks on the upperparts, narrow barrings on the underparts and yellowish-green bill and legs. Male is significantly larger and has thicker bill than female. Breeding male has black body with streaked buff-brown back, mostly yellowish bill and red frontal shield that extends over the head. Juvenile resembles female.

Habitat: Freshwater wetlands, marshy grasslands and well vegetated ponds in parks/gardens.

Behaviour/Ecology: Usually solitary and skulk in thick cover, occasionally coming out to feed in the open.

Local Status: Uncommon migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Recent sightings were at Singapore Botanic Gardens, Japanese Garden, Kranji Marsh, Lorong Halus, Seletar and Tuas.

Featured reports: Mar 2022, Dec 2022, Jan 2023, Feb 2023, Mar 2023, Apr 2023, May 2023, Oct 2023, Dec 2023, Jan 2024, Feb 2024, Mar 2024, Apr 2024, May 2024

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Watercock Gallicrex cinerea
Estimated average number of individuals by week based on eBird data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024
Peak week Jan 01-Jan 07
Early date 08 Jul 1990
Late date 11 Jun 1992
A late-arriving migrant. Occasionally observed in wetlands and grasslands, and unfortunately also a frequent victim of building collisions.
Female Watercock at SBG. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Male Watercock at Kranji Marsh. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Female Watercock at SBG. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Male Watercock at Kranji Marsh. Photo credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Male Watercock at Kranji Marsh. Photo credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Female Watercock at SBG. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Watercock)

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Gallicrex cinerea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22692789A93369824.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Watercock. Retrieved on December 17, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/watercock.

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