Scientific Name: Poliolimnas cinereus
Malay Name: Ruak-ruak Kening Putih
Chinese Name: 白眉田鸡
Range: Found from Southeast Asia to Northern Australia
Taxonomy: Monotypic.
Size: 19-21.5 cm
Identification: Adult is easily identified by a combination of small size, dark orbital area bordered above and below by broad white streak (resembling eye-brow), greyish crown, nape, breast and upper flanks, brownish upperparts, yellowish bill with some red at base and yellowish-green legs and feet. Juvenile resembles adult but the greyish parts are somewhat browner, facial features less distinct and lacks red at base of bill.
Habitat: Well-vegetated freshwater wetlands.
Behaviour/Ecology: Usually more active in the early morning and evening when they are fairly conspicuous when feeding in the open.
Local Status: Uncommon resident
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)
Location: Lorong Halus, Kranji Marsh and Sengkang Riverside Park.
- Bird List Revision for August 2020 (Revisions)
- Local extinctions of Singapore birds (Science)
- First breeding record of Mangrove Whistler on Singapore Island in over 70 years (Birders' Stories)
Featured reports: Jul 2022, Aug 2022, Sep 2022, Nov 2022, Dec 2022, Aug 2023, Sep 2023, Oct 2023, Feb 2024, Mar 2024, May 2024, Jan 2025, Feb 2025, Mar 2025, Apr 2025, Jun 2025, Aug 2025
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (White-browed Crake)
References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Amaurornis cinerea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22692723A93366932.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
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.). White-browed Crake. Retrieved on December 1, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/white-browed-crake.